Europa League last 32 draw: Spurs meet Fiorentina again
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | December 14, 2015
There will be no fairytale returns for Gary Neville and Jurgen Klopp at their respective former clubs Manchester United and Liverpool just yet, but the Europa League last 32 draw has still conjured up some tasty ties.
The official Round of 32 draw result.
#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/5rn0YdZHVd
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) December 14, 2015
Neville’s Valencia (16/1 title chances with Coral, from 14/1) were the first name to be picked out of the bowl, and will host Austrian outfit Austria Vienna, while Klopp will still return to Germany as his Reds (11/1, from 12/1) travel to Augsburg in their first leg.
Man Utd, who finished third in their Champions League group, meanwhile, have been paired with Southampton’s Europa League play-off conquerors Midtjylland of Denmark. Tottenham (18/1, from 16/1), on the other hand, will face a tough test against Serie A side Fiorentina (25/1, from 22/1).
Elsewhere, other intriguing fixtures include the battle between Marcelo Bielsa’s (even-money favourite to take over at Swansea City) former clubs Marseille and Athletic Bilbao, and defending champions Sevilla (14/1, from 16/1), who dropped down from the Champions League, take on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde.
Dortmund, meanwhile, host Porto first, Galatasaray entertain Lazio in a potentially fiery fixture, and Villareal welcome Napoli in other standout ties.
Analysis of Premier League trio’s prospects
It will be the second time that Tottenham have been drawn Fiorentina in this competition, as they met at this stage only last season. The Italians were 3-1 victors on aggregate.
Under-pressure Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal has stated his side (10/1, from 12/1) will take this competition seriously, and will fancy his chances against Midtjylland, who only saw off Gibraltarian minnows Lincoln Red Imps in Champions League qualifying.
The Dutchman will be even more determined to get one over bitter rival and compatriot Ronald Koeman, whose Saints side were knocked out by the Danes, if he is still at the helm at Old Trafford.
Liverpool head coach Klopp will not be granted a return to old side Dortmund, but has instead been rewarded with a return to his homeland against Augsburg.
Klopp has a great record against that opposition, having only lost to them just once in eight matches, but interesting was defeated 1-0 in his last game against them last season also in February.
All these clubs will be vying to make it to the final, which will take place at the St Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, this year on May 18th 2016.
Europa League 2015/16 last 32 draw in full
Valencia v Rapid Vienna
Fiorentina v Tottenham
Borussia Dortmund v Porto
Fenerbahce v Lokomotiv Moscow
Anderlecht v Olympiakos
Midtjylland v Manchester United
Augsburg v Liverpool
Sparta Prague v FC Krasnodar
Galatasaray v Lazio
Sion v Braga
Shakhtar Donetsk v Schalke
Marseille v Athletic Bilbao
Sevilla v Molde
Sporting Lisbon v Bayer Leverkusen
Villarreal v Napoli
St-Etienne v Basel
Ties to be played on February 18th and 25th.
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