In Friday’s Europa League last-16 draw, Liverpool and Brighton discovered their next opponents as they aim to progress further in the prestigious competition. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will face Sparta Prague, while Brighton, who are making their European debut this season , will lock horns with the Italian giants, Roma.
The draw also revealed matchups for other English clubs, with West Ham set to clash against Freiburg, and Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers gearing up for a challenging encounter against Benfica.
Liverpool, currently leading the Premier League, secured their spot in the last 16 with a game to spare back in November, allowing them to bypass the play-off round in February. The Reds, who have a rich history in the competition, winning it three times and finishing runners-up in 2016, will relish the opportunity to continue their European journey.
This draw resurrects memories of Liverpool’s previous encounter with Sparta Prague in the 2010-11 Europa League, where they emerged victorious 1-0 on aggregate after a late goal from Dirk Kuyt in the second leg.
Meanwhile, Brighton, experiencing European football for the first time, will face a stern test against Roma. The Seagulls, who made it through to the last 16 by defeating Marseille in the group stage, are set to write a new chapter in their history against the Serie A side, who reached the final last season.
West Ham, last season’s Europa Conference League winners, will challenge Freiburg, a team they have already overcome twice in this campaign. Rangers, on the other hand, will need to bring their A-game against Benfica in what promises to be an intense encounter.
The first legs of these exciting ties are scheduled for 7 March, with the return legs set for 14 March. As per the draw, Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham, and Rangers will all enjoy the advantage of playing at home in the second leg.
The Europa Conference League draw also added another layer of anticipation as Aston Villa, the only remaining British team, are pitted against former European champions Ajax. Villa, back in European competition for the first time since the 2010-11 season, will look to continue their impressive run in the Europa Conference League.
With high-stakes matchups and plenty of excitement on the horizon, football fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the drama that will unfold in the Europa League and Europa Conference League last-16 fixtures next month.
