Why teams from Spain and the same country cannot meet in the draw for the round of 16 of the 2022-2023 Europa League

If Barcelona eliminates Manchester United and Sevilla does the same with PSV, four Spanish teams will participate in the draw for the round of 16 of the Europa League, as Betis and Real Sociedad are classified for that body. Yes indeed, They won’t be able to meet…

Why teams from Spain and the same country cannot meet in the draw for the round of 16 of the 2022-2023 Europa League

Can a Spanish team compete against another Spanish team in the Europa League round of 16? The answer is no, that is not possible. And the reason can be found in the drawing rules for this instance:

• The top eight teams from the UEFA Europa League group stage are seeded. The eight winners of the knockout round of the playoffs are not seeded.

• The best qualifiers from the UEFA Europa League group stage play the second leg at home.

• Clubs of the same federation cannot play against each other.

Teams ranked eighth

Group stage winners (seeded)
Arsenal (ENG)
Bettis (ESP)
Fenerbahce (TUR)
Ferencvaros (HUN)
Feyenoord (NED)
Freiburg (GER)
Royal Society (ESP)
Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL).

Eight play-off knockout round winners (unseeded)
Ajax (NED) / Union Berlin (GER)
Barcelona (ESP) / Manchester United (ENG)
Juventus (ITA) / Nantes (FRA)
Leverkusen (GER) / Monaco (FRA)
Salzburg (AUT) / Rome (ITA)
Sevilla (ESP) / PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Shakhtar (UK) / Rennes (FRA)
Sporting CP (POR) / Central Jutland (DEN).