Europa League final 16 draw; Liverpool land PSG in Champions League – stay | Soccer

They’re now exhibiting the brief explainer video. Put the kettle on, seize a Twix/Jive.

Former Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz is doing the draw for this one. Is smart on condition that the ultimate is in Bilbao. Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers followers await their destiny.

The Europa League draw is developing quickly, of us!

“When do the Europa League spherical of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals happen?” asks Neil from the moon.

Spherical of 16: 6 & 13 March 2025
Quarter-finals: 10 & 17 April 2025
Semi-finals: 1 & 8 Might 2025
Ultimate: 21 Might 2025 (Bilbao)

Right here’s our have a look at the weekend Premier League video games.

It contains Daniel Harris on Man Metropolis v Liverpool: “Ought to Liverpool win, will probably be arduous to see them being caught, however ought to they falter, the sense that they’re an honest crew profiting from serendipitous lapses elsewhere will compound. The query, although, is whether or not Metropolis are in a position to find their vitality and rhythm after a chastening expertise in Madrid.”

Again to home issues and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been talking forward of the Seagulls’ brief journey to bottom-placed Southampton on Saturday.

Brighton have been hammered 7-0 by Nottingham Forest however have received 5 of their final seven matches in all competitions, together with a pair of victories towards Chelsea in league and FA Cup.

So can Brighton push for a European place? They’re at present tenth however simply two factors off eighth spot which might safe it.

Hurzeler stated: “Internally, we have now clear targets and clear imaginative and prescient. However it’s sport by sport. The Premier League and our season has proven issues go from right here to right here. We labored arduous for this momentum and it’s now about protecting that.

“After the loss to Forest, we tried to get again the depth from the beginning of the season. We misplaced this depth and vitality via the season so we stated we wish to return to our roots, again to the issues that made us robust

“We wish to be a crew that may be very arduous to beat. We play towards Southampton however we additionally play towards ourselves and our limits. I demand from my crew that we go along with this depth towards Chelsea, but in addition Southampton so we have now no distinction in our method.”

Champions League draw and dates

Extra response. Liverpool being shafted a bit appears a theme.

Ben Duxbury writes: “Hello Dave. There actually was no profit in ending prime of the league stage was there? Villa and Arsenal a lot better attracts than Liverpool.”

Chris (a Liverpool fan): “So, if we get via all our video games we should (possibly) beat: PSG, Villa, Actual Madrid and Barcelona within the closing. High seed my arse.”

Glynn from Leicester: “I’d like to know why they’ll’t simply put 16 names in a hat, FA Cup fashion. Why all of the chicanery? Solely a cynic would recommend that each little foible within the draw format, each little complication, is designed to assist hold the massive groups aside until the ‘proper’ time – however I’m not a cynic, so what can it presumably be?”

Barry Mcauley: “I don’t suppose Barcelona might have given themselves a handier draw to the semi finals in the event that they’d have picked their potential opponents themselves.

Timo in Germany: “As a German I’ve to let you know although that Leverkusen towards Munich isn’t actually a derby by way of the groups being shut collectively because the cities are 287 miles aside. Possibly I’m misunderstanding the time period derby since english isn’t my first language, during which case neglect about it.” Ah, sure, I sort of meant identical nation. It was me being clumsy!

One thing else from the draw. “The winners of the semi-final on the silver aspect of the bracket are designated because the nominal house crew for the ultimate.”

I feel which means Liverpool would play in purple in the event that they took on Bayern or Barcelona within the closing. Okay, we’re getting forward of ourselves right here.

Liverpool will most likely even be happy that they’ll’t play Actual Madrid within the closing. That by no means goes nicely for the Reds, at the very least in trendy, non-Alan Kennedy instances.

So, if I’ve acquired this proper, we are able to’t have an all-English closing. Good, that by no means feels proper anyway. Liverpool v Spurs was a shocker.

And it doesn’t cease there. And now the house and away order for the semis.

Semi-final 1:

PSV/Arsenal/Actual Madrid/Atletico Madrid v PSG/Liverpool/Brugge/Aston Villa

Semi-final 2:

Benfica/Barcelona/Dortmund/Lille v Bayern/Leverkusen/Feyenoord/Inter

And now the quarter-final draw. Duos on the left play the primary leg at house.

PSG/Liverpool v Brugge/Aston Villa
PSV/Arsenal v Actual Madrid or Atletico Madrid
Benfica/Barcelona v Dortmund/Lille
Bayern/Leverkusen v Feyenoord/Inter

One other right here’s one other corker. Robust draw for Arne Slot’s aspect

PSG v Liverpool
Benfica v Barcelona

It’s Dutch opposition for the Gunners.

Arsenal v PSV
Feyenoord v Inter

Subsequent up, oof!!! A derby double!!

Atletico Madrid v Actual Madrid
Bayern Munich v Leverkusen

Let’s go. Balls are being swirled.
The primary crew out are Villa.

Aston Villa v Brugge
Lille v Dortmund

“I hope the process is evident,” deadpans UEFA deputy common secretary Giorgio Marchetti.

A video explains simply how the draw works. I used to be confused eight seconds in. It’ll be performed quickly.

Reside scenes from Nyon present some males in fits watching soccer highlights. Giovane Elber, a former Champions League winner with Bayern, is the particular visitor. He seems notably sensible.

Extra Champions League draw e-mails trickling in. Pleasure constructing.

Derek Duffy writes: “Hello David. I haven’t despatched you a query so thanks for not answering it.”

No probs.

Pedro notes: “I can’t assist however see that the league part prime 8, alphabetically ordered, exhibits that every one groups fall inside the first half of the alphabet! I’m calling a conspiracy right here.”

We do know attainable last-16 opponents at the very least. So, for the Premier League groups we have now these both/or situations:

Arsenal – Feyenoord or PSV
Aston Villa – Membership Brugge or Dortmund
Liverpool – Benfica or PSG

Good grief. I’ve had some precise, actual emails.

A sensible one from Jason: “How rapidly will we all know fixture dates… must e book flight to Liverpool away sport however must know if Tues or Wed match! Want quick fingers earlier than costs rocket!”

And a dose of actuality from krishnamoorthy v: “Don’t worry about lack of mails – we outdated faithfuls won’t ever allow you to down. Why hassle with this draw and the following three months once we know Actual Madrid wins it anyway.”

The fake questions are nonetheless not pouring in. Marilyn from Keswick: “How does the spherical of 16 draw work?”

I’ve completely no concept, Marilyn. It’s simply waffle. So I’ll paste the official blurb from UEFA. Shrug emoji.

The golf equipment are paired primarily based on their positions on the finish of the league part to kind 4 seeded pairs (golf equipment in positions 1 and a couple of, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and eight).

The golf equipment in every seeded pair are drawn into one in all two positions within the spherical of 16 towards the related winner of the knockout part play-offs, whose place was decided by the knockout part play-off draw.

4 bowls are ready for the draw, with the balls containing the names of every pair of seeded groups positioned within the corresponding marked bowls in line with the league rankings.

The draw allocates the aspect of the bracket for all of the seeded groups, beginning with the groups ranked 7/8 and ending with the groups 1/2.

One ball is taken from the bowl containing the 2 related ranked groups (i.e. the groups ranked 7 and eight) and is opened to show the crew. The primary crew drawn from this bowl is positioned of their reserved spot on the silver aspect of the bracket (see bracket graphic under). The opposite seeded crew of the pairing is then drawn and displayed, and allotted within the corresponding reserved spot on the blue aspect of the bracket (see under).

The identical process is carried out with the remaining seeded groups.

In precept, the seeded golf equipment play the return leg at house.

Ron from Carlisle hasn’t been in contact: “Can groups from the identical nation face one another within the Champions League spherical of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals?”

Sure Ron. And, get this, groups may even play towards different groups they got here up towards within the league part.

Bob from Plymouth now: “Hello Dave, when do the Champions League spherical of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals happen?”

Listed here are the dates, B-dog.

Spherical of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March
Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April
Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 Might
Ultimate: 31 Might (Munich)

Have a query concerning the Champions League draw? Utilizing a sequence of fictional individuals who haven’t written in, I’ll reply your imagined queries.

Terry from Bridgend writes (he doesn’t): “Hello Dave, you’re trying nicely. Inform us the highest eight from the league please in alphabetical order please. And comply with that with the unseeded play-off winners, once more alphabetically please.”

No probs Tezzer.

League part prime eight
Arsenal (England)
Aston Villa (England)
Atletico Madrid (Spain)
Barcelona (Spain)
Inter (Italy)
Leverkusen (Germany)
Lille (France)
Liverpool (England)

Play-off winners
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Bayern München (Germany)
Benfica (Portugal)
Membership Brugge (Belgium)
Feyenoord (Netherlands)
Paris (France)
PSV (Netherlands)
Actual Madrid (Spain)

Let’s begin by setting the scene for the weekend Premier League motion. It begins tonight with Brentford travelling to Leicester so don’t neglect to switch Bryan Mbeumo again into your fantasy crew.

Friday
8pm Leicester v Brentford

Saturday
12.30pm Everton v Man Utd
3pm Arsenal v West Ham
3pm Bournemouth v Wolves
3pm Fulham v Crystal Palace
3pm Ipswich v Spurs
3pm Southampton v Brighton
5.30pm Aston Villa v Chelsea

Sunday
2pm Newcastle v Nottingham Forest
4.30pm Man Metropolis v Liverpool

Preamble