Europa League

SPARTA PRAGUE’S Europa League clash with Galatasaray ended in chaos as a mass brawl broke out on the touchline.Sparta claimed a 6-4 aggregate victory over the Turkish giants after a 4-1 second-leg win in the Czech Republic on Thursday night.
A huge brawl broke out on the touchline following Sparta Prague’s winCredit: Twitter @footballontnt
Lucas Torreira, right, was among those in the middle of the chaotic sceneCredit: Twitter @footballontnt
It was an ugly end to a thrilling Europa League tieCredit: Twitter @footballontnt
The last-16 tie was settled in added time when Jan Kutcha scored in the 96th minute to make sure of Prague’s place in the last 16.
But moments later there were manic scenes on the sideline as the final whistle was blown.
Both sets of players and coaching staff were embroiled in a furious altercation as they came to blows.
In among the heaps of bodies was ex-Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira – who appeared to be trying to diffuse the situation.
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Torreira, 28, left the Gunners for Galatasaray in 2022 and claimed the Turkish Super Lig title last season.
Former Crystal Palace and Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha was also in the midst of the post-match brawl.
It was eventually diffused without anybody being shown a red card.
However, a sending off had taken place during the match when Galatasaray man Kaan Ayhan was dismissed in the 70th minute.
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He was given the red card after a VAR review for a poor challenge.
Following their victory, Sparta have been handed one of the hardest possible draws in the last 16 as they will take on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Europa League draw revealed as Liverpool face Sparta Prague, Brighton get horror draw and West Ham face familiar foe
Other standout ties include Rangers vs Benfica, Brighton vs Roma and Villarreal and Marseille.
Some fans were left furious with the draw on Friday.
The first legs will take place on March 7, before the return fixtures on March 14.
The Europa League last-16 draw includes some huge names More

FOOTBALL fans accused the Europa League draw of being “rigged” after English clubs discovered their last-16 opponents.Liverpool, Brighton and West Ham were all in the hat for the draw on Friday having won their respective groups before Christmas.
Some fans were thoroughly unhappy with the Europa League draw
Their success in the group stage meant they would be pitted against a team that had come through the play-off round – which they entered either as group runners-up or after dropping down from the Champions League.
And Liverpool earned themselves a favourable draw as they will take on Sparta Prague.
But West Ham and Brighton have been handed tougher paths, with The Hammers facing Bundesliga side Freiburg and The Seagulls coming up against Italian giants Roma.
This led to many fans flocking to social media to rage about the draw.
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One said: “Rigged tournament.”
Another added: “Rigged the draw.”
While a West Ham fan replied: “So rigged hahaha, we have no chance.”
But one Liverpool supporter was over the moon as they responded: “Sparta Prague, best draw we could’ve got. So happy about it.”
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Meanwhile, others were baffled by the rules of the draw as Qarabag were paired with Bayer Leverkusen despite the pair being in the same group.
A social media user said: “They met in the group stage? This is so rigged man.”
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Europa Conference League holders West Ham and Freiburg also faced off in the group stage, with David Moyes’ men claiming two victories.
The first-leg ties will take place on March 7, with the return legs seven days later.
Rangers will continue their European journey with a tough fixture against Benfica.
And French heavyweights Marseille will take on 2021 Europa League winners Villarreal.
Nobody offered any proof for their suggestions that the draw was rigged.
See the full draw below…
Here is the Europa League last-16 draw More

THE Europa League draw for the last 16 is set and there’s some tasty ties for the British teams.Premier League trio Brighton, Liverpool and West Ham have all discovered their fate alongside Scottish giants Rangers.
The Europa League last 16 draw has been decidedCredit: Getty
Liverpool have learned who they will face in the Europa League last 16Credit: Alamy
Brighton know their next opponents tooCredit: Reuters
West Ham are looking for success in Europe for a second consecutive seasonCredit: EPA
Liverpool will take on Czech side Sparta Prague as they look to give Jurgen Klopp a European dream of a send off.
Meanwhile Brighton face Roma after topping their “group of death” that housed both Marseille and Ajax.
The Hammers are looking to create even more history in Europe this year after they won the Conference League last season.
And their journey to reach a second consecutive European final will continue when they face Freiburg in their last 16 tie.
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David Moyes’ side were in the same group as the German club, beating them on both occasions.
Rangers will also continue their European journey with a tough fixture against Benfica.

The Ibrox outfit went all the way to the final back in 2022, but ultimately suffered heartbreak at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt.
And Europe was hard for them to get a grasp on last season when they lost every single match they played during their Champions League campaign – finishing rock bottom of their group.
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The next round is set to get underway on March 7 with the second leg of each fixture to be played just a week later on March 14.
And there will be some more high-profile clashes outside of the home nations ties too with French heavyweights Marseille facing Spanish superstars Villarreal
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Elsewhere in European competition Aston Villa were dished out a tricky draw in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.
The Villans will take on Ajax over two legs for their bid to return to European glory for the first time since 1982.

Europa Conference League Last 16 Draw
Servette vs Viktoria Plzen
Molde vs Club Brugge
Ajax vs Aston Villa
Union SG vs Fenerbahce
Dinamo Zagreb vs PAOK
Sturm Graz vs Lille
Maccabi Haifa vs Fiorentina
Olympiacos vs Maccabi Tel Aviv More

LIVERPOOL have landed an iconic European tie against AC Milan in SunSport’s simulated Europa League draw.The Reds sailed through to the last-16 after winning a group containing Toulouse, Union Saint-Gilloise and LASK.
Liverpool could face AC Milan in the Europa League last-16Credit: Reuters
The two teams played each other in the Champions League final in 2005 and 2007Credit: Getty
That meant they bypassed the play-off round contested between the group runners-up and the teams that were knocked out of the Champions League.
Milan were one of those teams after finishing third in their Champions League group behind Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.
And they already have one foot in the next round after demolishing Rennes 3-0 at the San Siro last week.
They face the Ligue Un side in the return leg this week and if they win they could set up a meeting with Liverpool in the next round.
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Jurgen Klopp’s side are one of eight seeded teams Milan could face along with West Ham, Brighton and Rangers – all of whom won their groups.
SunSport has simulated the draw for the next round and Liverpool vs Milan is the pick of the ties, though Rangers have also been handed a tricky test against Benfica or Toulouse.
There is plenty of European history between Liverpool and Milan with the two giants facing off twice in the Champions League final in 2005 and 2007.
Liverpool famously came back from 3-0 down to beat the Italians in Istanbul in 2005 before the Rosseneri took revenge two years later, winning 2-1.
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SunSport’s simulated Europa League draw in full
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The pair met more recently in the Champions League in 2021 with Liverpool winning the second round clash 5-3 on aggregate.
Elsewhere in our simulated draw West Ham face an eye-catching clash against Sparta Prague or Galatasaray, who won at Manchester United this season.
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Brighton also have another exciting European adventure on the cards, with Rome or Rotterdam the next destination for travelling Seagulls.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side picked up results at Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens already this campaign, and could fancy their chances despite the pedigree of Roma and Feyenoord, who met in the 2022 Europa Conference League final.
Marseille finished second in their group behind Brighton and have been given a dreaded tie against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen – as long as they beat Shakhtar Donetsk.
Elsewhere Atalanta will take on Sporting Lisbon or Young Boys while Villarreal play Braga or Qarabag.
Slavia Prague vs Lens or Freiburg rounds up SunSport’s simulated draw, with the actual draw set to take place on Friday at 11am. More