Europa League last 16 draw confirmed
Thursday, February 27, 2014
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The last-16 lineup is complete, with FC Porto versus fellow former UEFA Cup winners SSC Napoli and Sevilla FC against city rivals Real Betis Balompié among the pick of the ties.
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The lineup for the UEFA Europa League's last 16 is complete following Thursday's round of 32 second legs.
The first team through were Real Betis Balompié, a 2-0 victory at FC Rubin Kazan wrapping up a 3-1 aggregate win. They will meet local rivals Sevilla FC in the last 16 after the Rojiblancos overcame NK Maribor. Betis progressed despite being bottom of the Spanish Liga, and another side propping up their domestic standings, FC Anji Makhachkala, also advanced after defeating KRC Genk. They now face AZ Alkmaar.
Quickest out of the blocks were SS Lazio, who went in front at PFC Ludogorets Razgrad through Keita Baldé's strike after just 16.88 seconds – the second-fastest goal in this competition's history. Ludogorets bounced back, however, and will next come up against Valencia CF. Tottenham Hotspur FC mounted an even more impressive fightback, finding the net three times in 14 second-half minutes to knock out FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and tee up an encounter with SL Benfica.
One of the other ties of the round of 16 pits together two former UEFA Cup winners – FC Porto and SSC Napoli – after they triumphed over Eintracht Frankfurt and Swansea City AFC respectively.
Another eye-catching match-up will take place in Italy, where Juventus will play ACF Fiorentina in a repeat of the 1990 UEFA Cup final. The Bianconeri, looking to reach the final at their very own stadium, made light work of Trabzonspor AŞ while their Serie A counterparts saw off Esbjerg fB.
Round of 16 draw (13 & 20 March)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) v FC Anji Makhachkala (RUS)
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) v Valencia CF (ESP)
FC Porto (POR) v SSC Napoli (ITA)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
Sevilla FC (ESP) v Real Betis Balompié (ESP)
Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG) v SL Benfica (POR)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI) v FC Salzburg (AUT)
Juventus (ITA) v ACF Fiorentina (ITA)
Road to Turin
Quarter-finals: Draw 21 March, matches 3 & 10 April
Semi-finals: Draw 11 April, matches 24 April & 1 May
Final: Wednesday 14 May, Juventus Stadium
