In this draw for the round of 16 of the Europa League, OL and Monaco will play FC Porto and Braga for two clashes between French and Portuguese clubs. Barca will meet Galatasaray.
It could have been worse for the French clubs. Despite their first group places, OL and Monaco were not really protected by their seeded status. The fault of the teams transferred from the Champions League to the Europa League, then qualified yesterday after a play-off round. As a result, there will be a real Franco-Portuguese confrontation, which will have some impact on the UEFA index, depending on qualifications.
OL will play FC Porto with the first leg in Portugal on March 9 (6:45 p.m.) and the return to Groupama Stadium on March 17. This match will not be easy at all against La Liga leader Bwin. It will also recall a certain knockout round of the Champions League against the future European champion led by José Mourinho during the 2003/2004 season. The Lyonnais will have the mission of doing better than their illustrious predecessors.
Galatasaray for Barca
For AS Monaco, it seems a little less tough, on paper at least. The Asemist club will face Sporting Braga, 4th in its championship, a formation more and more accustomed to European games. The first round of this double confrontation will take place in the stadium in the mineral environment of Braga on March 10. The return will take place at Louis II on March 17, a week later.
If we were talking about affordable draw, it is above all that French clubs avoid Barça, who will challenge Galatasaray, RB Leipzig, opponent of Spartak Moscow, or even Atalanta which will play Bayer Leverkusen. Sevilla FC, whose stadium will host the final on May 18, will have West Ham as their obstacle, while neighboring Betis de Fekir will face Eintracht Frankfurt. There will be a final 8th between Rangers and Red Star.
The draw for the round of 16:
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Glasgow Rangers – Red Star Belgrade
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Sporting Braga – AS Monaco
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FC Porto – Olympique Lyonnais
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Atalanta – Bayer Leverkusen
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Sevilla FC – West Ham
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FC Barcelona – Galatasaray
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RB Leipzig – Spartak Moscow
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Betis – Eintracht Frankfurt
