THE six Premier League clubs still active in Europe now know their round of 16 opponents.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa will participate in the Champions League knockout stage in March while Tottenham and Manchester United are set to resume their Europa League campaigns – Chelsea remain favourites to win the Conference League.
The European competitions always have a significant bearing on Dream Team and managers should target these fixtures in the near future.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
- PSG v Liverpool
- PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
- Clun Brugge v Aston Villa
Arne Slot’s reward for topping the league phase is meeting with the best team in France – Ousmane Dembele and company beat Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the play-offs.
The Gunners will face the current Dutch champions, who edged out Juventus in the play-offs.
PSV have won just one of their six league games since the turn of the year.
Unai Emery will be quietly confident after the Villains were drawn against the team that finished 24th in the league phase, although Club Brugge did bear Villa 1-0 in Belgium back in November.
Liverpool and Aston Villa will meet in the quarter-finals if both sides progress beyond the last 16.
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If Arsenal get past PSV, they will play the winners of Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid.
SEE THE FULL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 DRAW HERE.
EUROPA LEAGUE
- AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham
- Real Sociedad v Manchester United
Like their North London rivals, Spurs have been drawn against Dutch opposition.
AZ lost to Ange Postecoglou’s side in North London in late October and ultimately finished 19th in the league phase.
The Red Devils’ goal-shy opponents are currently 11th in La Liga having lost four of their last five league games.
At the risk of getting far too ahead of the game, Spurs and Man United wouldn’t meet until the final…
SEE THE FULL EUROPA LEAGUE AND CONFERENCE LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 DRAWS HERE.
CONFERENCE LEAGUE
- Chelsea v Copenhagen
All the last 16 first legs will take place in Gameweek 26 with the second legs to follow in Gameweek 27.
Consequently, Aston Villa and Man United will be the only teams to fulfil two fixtures in Gameweek 26; the Villains will also host Cardiff in the FA Cup fifth round while the Red Devils will welcome Fulham to Old Trafford in the same competition.
All six clubs will then double up in Gameweek 27 as the second legs of the European ties will follow a full round of league fixtures.
GAMEWEEK 27 DOUBLE HEADERS
- LIVERPOOL vs Southampton & PSG
- ARSENAL vs Manchester United & PSV
- ASTON VILLA vs Brentford & Club Brugge
- TOTTENHAM vs Bournemouth & AZ Alkmaar
- MANCHESTER UNITED vs Arsenal & Real Sociedad
- CHELSEA vs Leicester & Copenhagen
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It’s worth noting that Cole Palmer has been added to the Blues’ Conference League squad for the knockout phase.
The England international wasn’t included in Enzo Maresca’s squad for the league phase of the competition with the Italian tactician citing “load management” but it seems Dream Team’s leading midfielder will have a part to play on Thursday nights going forward.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
