Manchester rivals learn UEFA Europa League fate
Friday, December 16, 2011
Article summary
Manchester United FC and AFC Ajax will meet for the first time since 1976 while holders FC Porto await Manchester City FC in the round of 32 following the UEFA Europa League draw.
Article top media content
Article body
Holders FC Porto will take on Manchester City FC in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 following today's draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, with AFC Ajax paired with Manchester United FC.
While Porto and City have never played before, Ajax have not met the Red Devils since a 1976/77 UEFA Cup first-round tie, which United won 2-1 on aggregate. Old scores may also be settled when S.S. Lazio take on Club Atlético de Madrid, a side they eliminated in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup semi-finals. In other notable round of 32 ties Stoke City FC take on Valencia CF while Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar will play Belgium's RSC Anderlecht.
Should Porto overcome City, they could meet Liga rivals Sporting Clube de Portugal in the round of 16, with the Lions up against Legia Warszawa in their round of 32 fixture.
Round of 32 draw
1 FC Porto* (POR) v Manchester City FC* (ENG)¹
2 AFC Ajax* (NED) v Manchester United FC* (ENG)
3 FC Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS) v Athletic Club (ESP)
4 FC Salzburg (AUT) v FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)
5 Stoke City FC (ENG) v Valencia CF* (ESP)
6 FC Rubin Kazan (RUS) v Olympiacos FC* (GRE)
7 AZ Alkmaar (NED) v RSC Anderlecht (BEL)
8 S.S. Lazio (ITA) v Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
9 FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU) v FC Twente (NED)
10 FC Viktoria Plzeň* (CZE) v FC Schalke 04 (GER)
11 Wisła Kraków (POL) v R. Standard de Liège (BEL)
12 SC Braga (POR) v Beşiktaş JK (TUR)²
13 Udinese Calcio (ITA) v PAOK FC (GRE)
14 Trabzonspor AŞ* (TUR) v PSV Eindhoven (NED)
15 Hannover 96 (GER) v Club Brugge KV (BEL)
16 Legia Warszawa (POL) v Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
Unless otherwise stated, first legs will be played on 16 February, with the returns taking place the following Thursday, 23 February.
¹ second leg to be played on Wednesday 22 February
² first leg to be played on Tuesday 14 February
*Transferred from the UEFA Champions League
Round of 16 draw
Salzburg/Metalist v Rubin/Olympiacos
Legia/Sporting v Porto/Manchester City
Steaua/Twente v Plzeň/Schalke
Wisła/Standard v Hannover/Club Brugge
Stoke/Valencia v Trabzonspor/PSV
AZ/Anderlecht v Udinese/PAOK
Lazio/Atlético v Braga/Beşiktaş
Ajax/Manchester United v Lokomotiv/Athletic
In principle the first legs will be played on 8 March, with the returns taking place the following Thursday, 15 March.
