The draw for the round of 32 (‘play-offs’) of the Europa League has delivered some compelling matchups, with Celtic facing Stuttgart and Fenerbahce taking on Nottingham, while Celta will revisit their earlier victory against PAOK.
Celtic, a historically significant team in European football, secured their place in the knockout stage with a crucial win over Utrecht on the final day of the league phase. Now, the Scottish side aims to build on that momentum against a strong Stuttgart squad, who narrowly missed out on the top eight due to a defeat in Rome.
Fenerbahce, steadily improving throughout the campaign, will test themselves against Nottingham, a team experiencing a remarkable turnaround. After a challenging start, Nottingham has claimed three victories in their last four games, climbing to thirteenth place in their domestic league.
Celta, coached by Claudio Giráldez, will renew acquaintances with PAOK, having previously defeated them 3-1 in Balaídos during the League phase. Despite three defeats impacting their campaign, Celta remains determined to continue their European journey, knowing a win at the Toumba stadium will be vital, potentially leading to a clash with either Lyon or Aston Villa.
Rafa Benítez’s Panathinaikos faces a tough test against Viktoria Plzen, who are currently undefeated and held them to a 0-0 draw in Athens during the first phase. Elsewhere, Ludogorets and Ferencvaros are set for a highly competitive encounter, while Brann, ranked twenty-fourth based on goal difference, will host Bologna. Genk, who came close to reaching the top eight, will battle Dinamo Zagreb, and Lille will travel to face Red Star in Serbia.
