Thrillers set up exciting round of 16
Thursday, February 24, 2011
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The round of 16 lineup is complete after some thrilling last-32 second legs threw up ties including FC Dynamo Kyiv against Manchester City FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen versus Villarreal CF.
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The UEFA Europa League round of 16 lineup is complete after some thrilling last-32 second legs on Thursday.
Chief among the dramatic finishes was Maurice Edu's added-time away goal for Rangers FC which took them past Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon and set up a meeting with PSV Eindhoven, scheduled for 10 and 17 March like all the ties. Glaswegian Aiden McGeady also contributed a last-gasp strike for FC Spartak Moskva to seal victory over FC Basel 1893. They now meet AFC Ajax, comfortable winners against RSC Anderlecht.
Dirk Kuyt claimed the only goal of Liverpool FC's tie with AC Sparta Praha and the Reds play SC Braga; FC Dynamo Kyiv await the other English side, Manchester City FC. Former UEFA Cup winners PFC CSKA Moskva and FC Porto set up a tie earlier this week and FC Zenit St Petersburg also are in the last 16, but FC Twente pipped FC Rubin Kazan to prevent an all-Russian encounter.
Other matches include Bayer 04 Leverkusen taking on Villarreal CF, conquerors of SSC Napoli, and SL Benfica against Paris Saint-Germain FC.
The draw for the quarter-finals onwards will be in Nyon on 18 March, exactly two months before the final at the Dublin Arena, for which tickets are on sale.
Round of 16 draw
SL Benfica (POR) v Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Manchester City FC (ENG)
FC Twente (NED) v FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)
PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) v FC Porto (POR)
PSV Eindhoven (NED) v Rangers FC (SCO)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) v Villarreal CF (ESP)
AFC Ajax (NED) v FC Spartak Moskva (RUS)
SC Braga (POR) v Liverpool FC (ENG)*
Teams mentioned first play at home in the opening legs; some dates and order of ties may change.
*Match reversed
