Roma, coached by the Portuguese José Mourinho, is one of the possible rivals of Benfica and Sporting de Braga in the play-off for access to the round of 16 of the Europa League.
After having ‘fallen out’ of the Champions League, the two Portuguese teams know that they will face one of the runners-up of the Europa League group stage, whose draw will take place on Monday.
The Romans, who have Rui Patrício and Renato Sanches in their squad, came second in Group G and, therefore, are among the teams that can find ‘reds’ and ‘arsenalists’, unlike Sporting, which also has to compete in the ‘play-off’. ‘, but coming from the groups of the second European competition.
The truth is that Benfica and Sporting de Braga avoid the ‘sharks’, with three Frenchmen among the possible rivals: Marseille, Toulouse and Rennes.
The Germans from Freiburg, the Czechs from Sparta Prague and the Azeris from Qarabag are the possible rivals of Benfica and Sporting de Braga.
Second classified in Group D of the Europa League, Sporting already knew its possible rivals in the play-off this Wednesday, without being able to face Benfica and Sporting de Braga.
Rafael Leão’s Italian AC Milan, a semi-finalist in the Champions League last season, is, in theory, the rival to avoid in Monday’s draw.
The Turks of Galatasaray, the French of Lens, the Dutch of Feyenoord, the Swiss of Young Boys and the Ukrainians of Shakhtar Donetsk are Sporting’s other possible rivals.
Pots of the play-off draw for access to the round of 16 of the Europa League:
– Teams from the Champions League:
Galatasaray (Tur), Lens (Fra), Sporting de Braga (Por), Benfica (Por), Feyenoord (Hol), AC Milan (Ita), Young Boys (Sui), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ucr).
– Europa League runners-up:
Freiburg (Ale), Marseille (Fra), Sparta Prague (Che), Sporting (Por), Toulouse (Fra), Rennes (Fra), Rome (Ita), Qarabag (Aze).
Source: TSF
