NION, Switzerland (AP) — The draw for the Italian derby between Roma and Bologna in the Europa League last 16 was concluded on Friday, knocking another Serie A team out of contention after a difficult week.
Things will not be easy for the winners of the two-legged series from March 12 to 19, as the next opponents in the quarter-finals will be Aston Villa or Lille.
advertise
Their top half draw also includes round-of-16 games, with Stuttgart facing Porto and Nottingham Forest facing Midtjylland.
Italian football’s Inter Milan and Juventus exited the Champions League this week due to clashes with lower-ranked opponents, leaving only Atalanta to represent Serie A in the last 16, which includes six English clubs.
Atalanta were drawn against Bayern Munich on Friday.
Two years ago, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini won the Europa League with Atalanta.
The new Europa League format introduced last season – a 36-team single-table format followed by tennis-style knockout rounds – now allows teams from the same country to meet at any point in the knockout stages.
advertise
Previously, El Clasico could only start in the quarter-finals.
The top half of the Europa League includes two Spanish clubs. Celta Vigo will host Lyon in the first leg, while Real Betis will first face Panathinaikos.
The winner of Celta Vigo against Lyon will advance to the quarter-finals to face either Genk or Freiburg.
Ferencvaros or Braga are waiting for the winner of the Panathinaikos-Betis match.
Friday’s draw advances the Europa League group stage to the final on May 20 at home to Besiktas in Istanbul.
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
