The Europa League knockout phase is about to get exciting! Liverpool, West Ham, and Brighton won in their groups and are now excited to know who they’ll face in the round of 16. They skipped the playoff draw but watched as second-placed teams from groups and third-placed teams from the Champions League found out their opponents on Monday in Switzerland.
English Contenders on the Brink In Europa
Liverpool, West Ham, and Brighton did well in the group stage, finishing at the top. This means they skip the playoffs and go straight to the Last 16. Now, they’re eagerly waiting to see who they’ll face next. The playoff draw happened, and the winners of those matches will be the ones challenging these English teams for a shot at winning the Europa League. The new playoff system introduced in the 21/22 season makes it extra exciting for the group winners—they get a direct pass to the Last 16.
European Giants and Underdogs in the Mix
The Europa League draw revealed some interesting matchups. AC Milan, a big team from the Champions League, will play against Stade Rennais. Other notable teams like Lens, Benfica, Braga, Feyenoord, Galatasaray, Shakhtar, and Young Boys are also in the knockout stages. Teams like Qarabag from Azerbaijan are seen as underdogs but are ready to make an impact against teams like Braga.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma, who came second in their group, will face Feyenoord. Aston Villa, who topped their group, are in a similar situation in the Europa Conference League. This means there are many English teams representing in European competitions.
In the knockout stage, football fans can expect exciting matches, especially with English teams aiming for success in the Europa League. Additionally, in the Champions League, Manchester City will play against Copenhagen, and Arsenal has a tough match against Porto. It’s shaping up to be an exciting journey in European football!
