The playoff round draw, the first direct knockout stage after the group phase in the Europa League, took place this Monday, setting the stage for eliminations scheduled to unfold this month.
The ceremony pulled in a range of notable figures from European football as teams learned their opponents in the next phase. The draw determined which clubs would clash in the decisive ties that will decide the quarterfinalists and beyond, with matches arranged for the calendar weeks ahead.
Infographic: Europa League Play-off Draw 2023-24
One of the standout pairings is Feyenoord versus Roma, a rematch of the 2022 Conference League final celebrated by Jose Mourinho’s side. That collision promises high drama and plenty of historical context for fans who remember the previous encounter.
AC Milan is also drawn to take on Rennes, a fixture notable for featuring one of Ligue 1’s four representatives in the competition this season. This matchup highlights the continued presence of French clubs in the knockout rounds and the evolving balance of powers across Europe.
Leipzig versus Real Madrid, Napoli versus Barcelona, Inter versus Atlético, and Paris Saint-Germain versus Real Sociedad headline the rounds that stand between the teams and the last-16 phase.
In the rest of the draw, clashes involving French clubs will continue to surface, including Shakhtar against Marseille and Lens against Freiburg. An additional exciting tie pairs Benfica with Toulouse, underscoring the mix of established European powers and rising teams in the mix.
Other notable ties include Young Boys versus Sporting de Braga, with Galatasaray facing Sparta Prague and Karabakh meeting Sporting de Braga in a pair of intriguing confrontations that will test depth, strategy, and resilience.
Several teams that topped their groups earned direct progression to the last-16 stage, bypassing the playoff round entirely. Among these fortunate sides are West Ham, Brighton, Rangers, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool, Slavia Prague, and Villarreal. Their group-stage performances secured them a smoother path into the knockout rounds, sparing them the extra fixtures that come with the playoff format.
As the competition advances, fans can expect a blend of seasoned European heavyweights and ambitious upstarts to collide in tightly contested ties. The results will shape the landscape of the Europa League’s knockout phase, with each matchup offering a narrative of tactical battles, memorable moments, and the potential for surprise outcomes. (Source: Official competition records and team press updates.)