Moyes gives verdict on West Ham topping Europa League group
Jose Mourinho’s Roma have been handed a tricky tie against Eredivisie champions Feyenoord in the play-off round of the Europa League. Mourinho and the Italians are aiming for more European success on the road to the final in Dublin. British teams such as Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Rangers were not featured in today’s draw as a result of them topping their respective European groups.
Group winners received a bye for this knockout round play-off, with runners-up drawn against teams who have finished third in their Champions League groups who drop into this competition. Teams from the same nation were kept apart at this stage and group stage runners-up will play the second leg at home.
Teams from the home nations are among the favourites to win the entire competition, but clubs that were handed their fate today also represent some extremely difficult opposition and the likes of Jurgen Klopp will be wise not to underestimate them.
Roma will not have hoped for a two-legged tie against a Feyenoord team that usurped the likes of Ajax and PSV to the Eredivisie title last season.
Brighton narrowly avoided being placed in this draw and only a 1-0 victory over Marseille in their final group-stage game sent them top, as they could have been facing the French side’s opponents Shakhtar Donetsk – in what would have been a reunion for Roberto De Zerbi at his former club.
Milan will feel that they have a strong chance at winning this competition, edging Newcastle out for third place in the Champions League on the final day. They will take on Rennes as part of a mouthwatering draw that has set up a host of interesting clashes.
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Europa League knockout playoff draw in full
Feyenoord vs Roma
AC Milan vs Rennes
Lens vs Freiburg
Young Boys vs Sporting
Benfica vs Toulouse
Braga vs Qarabag
Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille
The draw for the last 16, which will see Liverpool, Brighton West Ham, Rangers and co re-enter the competition, is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 23.
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