The draw for the Portuguese teams in the Europa League play-offs has been decided and it can be considered enjoyable. Sporting, which could catch several difficult sharks, will face Switzerland’s Young Boys, Benfica and Toulouse from France and Sp. Braga and Qarabag from Azerbaijan.
Benfica, runners-up in the competition in 2012/13 and 2013/14 – and in the predecessor UEFA Cup in 1982/83 – are fighting for access to the round of 16 for the ninth time, a stage in which they have only two eliminations, the last two in 2019/20 (Shakhtar Donetsk) and in 2020/21 (Arsenal), in the round of 32.
Sporting competed for entry to the round of 16 and then the round of 32 nine times, qualifying in 2009/10 (Everton), 2011/12 (Legia Warsaw), 2017/18 (Astana) and 2022/23 (Midtjylland ). , after being knocked out in 2010/11 (Rangers), 2014/15 (Wolfsburg), 2015/16 (Bayer Leverkusen), 2018/19 (Villarreal) and 2019/20 (Besaksehir).
Braga are competing for entry to the round of 16 for the 11th time, with success in 2006/07 (Parma), 2008/09 (Standard Liège), 2010/11 (Lech Poznan), when they reached the final, 2015/16 ( Sion) and 2021/22 (Sheriff), already as a play-off, and eliminations in 2007/08 (Werder Bremen), 2011/12 (Besiktas), 2017/18 (Marseille), 2019/20 (Rangers) and 2020/ 21 (Pomegranate).
PLAYOFF GAMES IN THE EUROPEAN LEAGUE:
Feyenoord-AS Roma
AC Milan-Rennes
Lens-Friburg
Young boys-SPORTY
BENFICA-Toulouse
SP. BRAGA-Qarabag
Galatasaray-Sparta Prague
Shakhtar-Marseille
The matches are scheduled for February 15 and 22, with Sporting finishing at home, where Benfica and Sporting de Braga start.
The Europa League final is scheduled for May 22 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.
Source: DN
