The Europa League knockout play-offs continue with the second leg matches scheduled for Thursday, February 26. Many teams are entering this stage with a favorable advantage garnered from their performances last week. The excitement doesn’t end there; the draw for the Round of 16 will take place the following day, adding another layer of anticipation.
Teams such as Aston Villa, Braga, Freiburg, Lyon, Midtjylland, Porto, Real Betis, and Roma are awaiting their potential opponents. Due to the structure of the draw, each of the eight teams will face options from two predefined matchups, ensuring competitive encounters ahead.
The draw possibilities are as follows:
– Ludogorets or Ferencvaros will face Porto or Braga.
– Celtic or Stuttgart will also go against Porto or Braga.
– Panathinaikos or Viktoria Plzen will meet Midtjylland or Real Betis.
– Fenerbahçe or Nottingham Forest will likewise engage with Midtjylland or Real Betis.
– GNK Dinamo or Genk will compete against Freiburg or Roma.
– Brann or Bologna will also face Freiburg or Roma.
– PAOK or Celta will take on Lyon or Aston Villa.
– Lille or Crvena Zvezda will similarly vie with Lyon or Aston Villa.
The matches on February 26 are set to kick off at two different times, with the first batch starting at 18:45 CET (17:45 GMT) featuring:
– Ferencváros vs Ludogorets Razgrad
– VfB Stuttgart vs Celtic
– Viktoria Plzeň vs Panathinaikos
– Crvena Zvezda vs Lille
The second batch of matches will begin at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT), including:
– Bologna vs Brann
– Celta Vigo vs PAOK
– Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe
– Genk vs Dinamo Zagreb
As teams vie for advancement into the knockout stages, the energy in stadiums and among fans promises to make for an exhilarating evening of European football. The draw the next day will only add to the excitement, shaping the path toward potential glory for the successful clubs.