Europa League draw live: Nottingham Forest and Celtic learn knockout play-off opponents
The Europa League reaches the knockout phase, with Aston Villa safely through to the last 16 and Nottingham Forest tasked with a play-off tie
The Europa League knockout phase play-offs are here with Nottingham Forest and Celtic having discovered their next opponents.
Celtic got the result they needed to avoid elimination from the competition in Thursday’s league-phase finale as they staved off a comeback to beat Utrecht at Parkhead, ensuring them a play-off tie with either Bundesliga side Stuttgart.
They join Forest in the play-off, who thrashed Ferencvaros 4-0 on the final matchday in the knowledge that they had already mathematically qualified for the next stage. Sean Dyche’s side were drawn against Turkish giants Fenerbahce and face a trip to Istanbul where the Europa League will also be held.
Aston Villa were the only side from the British contingent to finish in the top eight, earning a bye to the last 16 where they will face one of Red Star Belgrade, Celta Viga, PAOK or Lille but they will only find out their opponents in February.
Find all the results from the draw, the schedule and reaction to the draw in Nyon, Switzerland - plus the Champions League draw updates:
Newcastle given favourable draw as Champions League knockout play-off fixtures confirmed
Newcastle will face Qarabag for a place in the Champions League round of 16 after the draw for the knockout play-offs was confirmed.
A final day draw with Paris Saint-Germain secured a 12th placed finish in the league phase for Eddie Howe’s side, which has now resulted in a tie with the first Azerbaijani club to reach the knockout rounds of the competition.
Newcastle given kind draw as Champions League knockout play-off fixtures confirmed
What will the round of 16 ties look like?
Here are the combinations for the round of 16 fixtures:
Will face Porto or Braga:
- Stuttgart vs Celtic
Or
Will face Midtjylland or Real Betis:
- Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce
Or
- Viktoria Plzen vs Panathinaikos
Will face Lyon or Aston Villa:
- Red Star Belgrade vs Lille
Or
- Celta Viga vs PAOK
Will face Freiburg or Roma:
- Dinamo Zagreb vs Genk
Or
- Brann vs Bologna
When is the round of 16 draw?
The eight teams that advance from the knockout phase play-offs will be in the draw for the round of 16, along with those who directly qualified.
That draw will take place on Friday 27 February.
When will the knockout phase play-off ties take place?
Matches will take place over two legs, with the seeded team set to play the return leg at home.
First legs will be played on 19 February and second legs are slated to take place on 26 February.
Europa League play-off draw
Here is the play-off round draw in full:
Ludogorets vs Ferencvaros
Panathinaikos vs Viktoria Plzen
GNK Dinamo vs Genk
PAOK vs Celta
Celtic vs Stuttgart
Fenerbahce vs Nottingham Forest
SK Brann vs Bologna
Lille vs Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda)
Europa League play-off draw
GNK Dinamo Zagreb will host Genk.
Finally, SK Brann take on Bologna.
Europa League play-off draw
Ludogoret’s opponents in the play-off round will be Ferencvaros.
Celtic will take on Stuttgart. A tricky tie for the Scottish side.
Europa League play-off draw
Panathinaikos are taking on Viktoria Plzen.
Which means that Fenerbahce host Nottingham Forest.
Europa League play-off draw
The first complete knockout round fixture is...
... PAOK vs Real Club Celta.
Lille take on Red Star Belgrade.
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