Premier League leaders Liverpool have drawn Czech side Sparta Prague in the last 16 of the Europa League, while Evan Ferguson and Brighton will play Roma.
Bundesliga front-runners Bayer Leverkusen, whose manager Xabi Alonso is the subject of speculation regarding the Liverpool and Bayern Munich jobs – have been drawn against Azerbaijan’s Qarabag.
Europa Conference League holders West Ham United will face German side Freiburg.
Spain’s Villarreal, the 2020-21 champions, were paired with French Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille in the draw held in Nyon, Switzerland.
Italy’s AC Milan have drawn Slavia Prague, Portuguese league leaders Benfica will play Scottish Premiership table-toppers Rangers and Portuguese side Sporting face Serie A’s Atalanta in the other ties.
The Europa Conference League draw was also made on Friday, with Aston Villa set to face Ajax Amsterdam. This is Villa’s first season in Europe since the 2010-11 campaign.
Europa League last-16 draw
Sparta Prague v Liverpool
Olympique de Marseille v Villarreal
AS Roma v Brighton & Hove Albion
Benfica v Rangers
Freiburg v West Ham United
Sporting v Atalanta
AC Milan v Slavia Prague
Qarabag v Bayer Leverkusen
The first legs will be played on March 7th, except for Sporting v Atalanta, who will play their first-leg match on March 5th.
The second legs will be played on March 14th.
Team mentioned first will host the first leg
