2021 champions Villarreal to take on Olympique Marseille in Europa League Last 16

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

The 2020-21 season's champions Villarreal of Spain will take on French side Olympique Marseille in the 2024 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 according to the draws held on Friday.

Spanish La Liga side Villarreal bagged their maiden European trophy by beating English powerhouse Manchester United 11-10 in the penalty shootout after regular and extra time in final ended with 1-1 draw on May 26, 2021.

French Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille, on the other hand, have three trophies under their belt (1999, 2004, 2018) in the competition history.

Former Manchester United Irish defender John O'Shea, the 2024 UEFA Europa League final ambassador, joined to the draw at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.

The UEFA previously announced that the Europa League group winners are drawn against the eight winners of the knockout round play-offs and clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.

Also the group winners play the return legs at home, the UEFA statement added.

- The Round of 16 draw results are as below:

(Czech Republic) Sparta Prague-Liverpool (England)

(France) Olympique Marseille-Villarreal (Spain)

(Italy) Roma-Brighton and Hove Albion (England)

(Portugal) Benfica-Rangers (Scotland)

(Germany) Freiburg-West Ham United (England)

(Portugal) Sporting Lisbon-Atalanta (Italy)

AC Milan (Italy)-Slavia Prague (Czech Republic)

(Azerbaijan) Qarabag-Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)