German clubs handed tough Europa League draw
February 26, 2016
Dortmund will host Spurs in the first game of their tie, while Leverkusen travel to Spain for their first leg. The games will be played on March 10 and March 17.
With eight teams drawn out of the hat by former Switzerland striker Alexander Frei, there looked to be a decent chance that Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp would face his former employers Dortmund.
And, judging by the Premier League this season, Liverpool would’ve been an easier task for BVB than the one they got. Spurs sit in second place in the Premier League table and with Harry Kane’s goals, the tightest defence in the league and rising English star Dele Alli, they are sure to pose a threat.
The North London side brushed aside Fiorentina in the last round with a 3-0 win at White Hart Lane contributing to a 4-1 aggregate score while Dortmund were also impressive in their 3-0 aggregate win over Porto.
One potentially complicating factor for Dortmund is the fact that they host Bayern Munich on March 5, just five days before the first leg, in a game that could yet play a part in the Bundesliga title race. That is mitigated by their opponent's fixture though, with Spurs hosting North London and title rivals Arsenal on the same day.
Villareal are also enjoying a good season in Spain. They sit fourth in the La Liga table in the final Champions League spot, eight points clear of Sevilla.
They too have an excellent defensive record, with only 18 goals conceded in 25 games – the second tightest record in La Liga. They reached the semi final of the competition in 2011.
German teams aside, the undoubted tie of the round is in England. Rivals Manchester United and Liverpool, both more accustomed to the Champions League in recent times, square off over two legs, with the first at Anfield.
Klopp was delighted with the draw: "It's great," he said to reporters afterwards. "We deserve these games. It's not easy. I told my staff yesterday that I wanted Manchester United.
The tie will be the first time the two English giants have met in European competition.
Europa League last 16 – March 10 and 17
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Anderlecht
Basel vs. Sevilla
Villereal vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Bilbao vs. Valencia
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
Sparta Prague vs. Lazio
Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Fenerbahce vs. Braga