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    European fixtures key to huge points for Dream Team managers across next two Gameweeks

    ANY Dream Team manager worth their salt knows to squeeze the schedule for all it’s worth.The logic is simple and undeniable: more fixtures equals more point-scoring opportunities.
    This ploy isn’t totally fool-proof but it generally pays dividends over the course of a season.

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    Smart options for Gameweeks 26 and 27?Credit: Dream Team
    Looking at the next fortnight or so, it appears the upcoming European games hold the key to plentiful points.
    In Gameweek 26, five teams will fulfil two fixtures with Manchester City, Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa all in continental action in midweek after a full round of Premier League games at the weekend.
    Pep Guardiola’s side host neighbours Manchester United on Sunday before welcoming FC Copenhagen to the Etihad on Wednesday night.
    Given Erling Haaland (£7.5m) plundered 40 points in Gameweek 25, the captaincy debate is likely to be a simple one for most gaffers.
    Elsewhere, Liverpool travel to Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague in what has to be considered a favourable double header.
    Dream Team bosses eagerly await availability updates on Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.5m).
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    Salah will be a popular recruit if deemed availableCredit: Getty
    Brighton also have back-to-back away days in the form of Fulham in the league then Roma in the Europa League.
    Pascal Gross (£4.5m) is among Dream Team’s most in-form players at present having earned 49 points across his last five outings.
    West Ham are the third and final English team still active in the Europa League.
    The Hammers face Freiburg (again) after a trip to Everton at the weekend.
    Jarrod Bowen’s (£4.5m) hat-trick against Brentford on Monday suddenly looks very timely indeed.
    The England international provided healthy returns for much of last season thanks in no small part to his ultimately triumphant Europa Conference League commitments.
    This season it’s Aston Villa who are set to take part in the knockout stages of the continent’s tertiary competition.
    31 goal involvements and countingCredit: Getty
    Unai Emery’s side drew a big name in the round of 16 in the form of Ajax but it’s worth noting that the Dutch giants have been below par for much of 2023/24.
    Jordan Henderson and company are without a win in their last four league games and currently reside fifth in the Eredivisie table.
    Ollie Watkins (£4.5m), Douglas Luiz (£3.9m), John McGinn (£3.7m), Emi Martinez (£3.1m) and Leon Bailey (£3m) are therefore all tempting options.
    The former has scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions this season while the latter has quietly amassed 20 goal involvements.
    The Villains travel to Luton on Saturday for their Premier League match-up with the Hatters having just shipped six goals to City in the FA Cup.
    Back among the goalsCredit: Getty

    Looking forward to Gameweek 27, it’s Arsenal who will be in Champions League action in Man City’s place for their second leg against Porto.
    Whereas Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Aston Villa will all fulfil their respective second legs in consecutive Gameweeks.
    These four clubs are therefore the only teams with two fixtures each in Gameweeks 26 and 27.
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    This clearly hasn’t escaped Dream Team bosses as the four most-popular recruits ahead of Saturday’s deadline are currently: Watkins, Bowen, Virgil van Dijk (£3.9m) and Douglas Luiz.
    Targeting the midweek European fixtures is likely to be a profitable strategy.

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    West Ham face same team for THREE matches running in bizarre quirk due to little-known rule in Europa League draw

    WEST HAM fans might grow bored of their Europa League last 16 opponents pretty quickly.The Hammers will face off against German side Freiburg in the next round of the competition, with some fans fuming about the draw and even labelling it as “rigged”, in unfounded claims.
    West Ham will face Freiburg in the last 16 of the Europa LeagueCredit: Getty
    Although it won’t be an easy tie for the Hammers, it will certainly be a familiar one.
    West Ham faced Freiburg in the group stages, meaning they have come up against them twice already this season.
    And with their final group match having been against the Bundesliga outfit, David Moyes’ side will be playing Freiburg THREE times in a row with the last 16 tie being played over two legs.
    Usually teams can’t be drawn against a team from their own group in European competitions, but the Europa League’s format has changed to mean it can now happen.
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    Each team that tops their group automatically secures a spot in the last 16 while the second placed teams head into a play-off with the best ranked sides that drop down from the Champions League.
    The winner of the play-off books their spot in an open draw to face one of the Europa League group stage winners in the last 16 of the tournament.
    So although West Ham are playing Freiburg three times in a row in the tournament, it will not be the same for the Germans who had to beat French club Lens over two legs to secure their spot in the next round.
    West Ham and Feiburg aren’t the only two teams who will face off against a team they already played in the group stages either.
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    Sporting Lisbon and Atalanta were both in Group D together and will now go head to head again in the next round.
    While Bayer Leverkusen and Qarabag will also meet again after playing twice in Group H earlier in the season.

    West Ham may take confidence in facing Freiburg again after they got the better of them on both occasions in the group stage.
    Lucas Paqueta and Nayef Aguerd netted in a 2-1 victory at the Europa-Park Stadium when the teams met on matchday two.
    While Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez both scored in a comfortable 2-0 win at the London Stadium in December.
    The Hammers have already beaten Freiburg twice this seasonCredit: AP More

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    Europa League clash descends into chaos with limbs everywhere as former Arsenal star caught up in mass brawl

    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

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    Fans fear for Premier League’s fifth Champions League spot after tricky Europa League draw

    FANS fear the Premier League could miss out on a fifth Champions League spot after English teams were dealt a tricky Europa League draw.Uefa’s expansion of the Champions League next season means there will be an extra automatic place from the domestic leagues of the two best-performing countries across the three European competitions.
    West Ham and Brighton could play a big role in boosting the Premier League’s coefficient
    England stood in third, narrowly behind second-placed Germany, at the end of the group phase in December.
    But the Prem’s coefficient ranking will be boosted if English clubs continue to progress in European competition this season.
    However Arsenal are in danger of Champions League elimination after losing the first leg of their second round tie with Porto 1-0.
    While Brighton have now been handed a tricky tie against Roma, who won the Europa Conference League in 2022.
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    Liverpool will be expected to beat Sparta Prague but West Ham face a challenging test in Freiburg.
    Aston Villa, meanwhile, have been paired with Ajax in the Conference League draw.
    Fans fear the Premier League’s coefficient will take a hit if Brighton and West Ham exit the Europa League in the next round, particularly the Hammers as opponents Freiburg play in the Bundesliga and a win for them would push Germany further ahead of England.
    One supporter reacted to the draw saying: “Premier League’s coefficient is finished if West Ham and Brighton both go out. More damaging if West Ham go out.”
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    Another added: “West Ham have an easy draw….more sad for Brighton”
    And a Chelsea fan wrote: “It’s looking long for our chances of Europe if we lose this Sunday.”
    Uefa’s coefficient ranking sees all the match and bonus points acquired by a country’s clubs divided by the number of teams involved at the start of the season – with England and Spain both having the maximum possible eight.
    It meant that City’s win over Copenhagen and a potential Arsenal win at Porto can earn England a maximum 0.5 ranking points.
    By contrast, Germany with five teams in action, could have earned 2.142pts, France (five clubs) 3.167pts, Spain (six clubs) 1.5pts and Italy (five teams) 2.286pts.
    The Premier League was not helped by Man Utd and Newcastle’s last-placed finishes in the Champions League group stage, which saw them exit Europe altogether.
    ‘Very good, I like that’ says Europa League draw host after Man Utd icon John O’Shea’s cheeky joke live on TV More

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    Fuming fans say Europa League draw is ‘rigged’ after Liverpool land ‘best team they could have got’

    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.”
    ‘Very good, I like that’ says Europa League draw host after Man Utd icon John O’Shea’s cheeky joke live on TV
    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

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    Europa League draw LIVE: Liverpool land dream tie, West Ham face Germans, Rangers take on Portuguese giants – reaction

    THE Europa League last-16 draw has concluded at the Uefa headquarters in Switzerland – and there are some mouth-watering ties for British clubs to look forward to.Liverpool will face Czech champions Sparta Prague while West Ham take on German side Freiburg.
    Brighton take on Italian giants Roma and Rangers will go head-to-head with Benfica.
    Elsewhere, Premier League high-flyers Aston Villa face Ajax in the Europa Conference League last-16.

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    Villa’s trip to Ajax
    Villa’s trip to Ajax in the Europa Conference League could have a huge bearing on their race for top four.
    They will travel to Amsterdam on March 7, before hosting Spurs at Villa Park three days later on Sunday March 10.
    The game against Tottenham will be at 1pm too,further minimising turnaround time for the Villains.
    The two clubs are the current favourites for finishing fourth and the games being so close together could affect Unai Emery’s team selection.
    Credit: Getty
    Copy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League fixtures
    Here’s when Aston Villa play next in the Europa Conference League:
    March 7:
    Ajax vs Aston Villa
    March 14:
    Aston Villa vs Ajax
    Copy linkCopiedEuropa League fixtures
    Here’s the full schedule of the British teams’ upcoming Europa League fixtures:
    March 7, 8pm:

    Benfica vs Rangers
    Roma vs Brighton
    Freiburg vs West Ham
    Sparta Prague vs Liverpool

    March 14, 8pm:

    Rangers vs Benfica
    Brighton vs Roma
    West Ham vs Freiburg
    Liverpool vs Sparta Prague

    Copy linkCopiedLiverpool’s injury worries
    Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final.
    Forwards Salah and Nunez were both injured during last Saturday’s win at Brentford and missed the midweek over Luton, while midfield man Szoboszlai has missed four matches with a hamstring injury.
    But Liverpool’s assistant boss Pep Lijnders says he hopes the trio will be fit for the Wembley clash with Chelsea.
    Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Alisson are all out for at least another month.
    This comes after the Merseysiders drew Sparta Prague in the Europa League’s Last 16 with their first match set for March 7 in the Czech Republic.
    With Dom, Darwin and Mo we have to really see. We have two more days and we will check if they are there. It would be great if they can be ready.Pep Lijnders
    Copy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw
    Here’s the full draw of the Europa Conference League Last 16 draw:

    Servette vs Viktoria Plzen
    Ajax vs Aston Villa
    Molde vs Club Brugge
    Union Saint-Gilloise vs Fenerbahce
    Dinamo Zagreb vs PAOK
    Sturm Graz vs Lille
    Maccabi Haifa vs Fiorentina
    Olympiacos vs Maccabi Tel Aviv

    Copy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League draw
    Aston Villa have drawn Ajax in the Europa Conference League’s Last 16.
    The first game will take place away in Amsterdam before the second leg at Villa Park.
    Copy linkCopiedEuropa Conference League next
    Aston Villa are the next British club to find out their opponents in Europe.
    But Villa will be playing in the Last 16 of the Europa Conference League.
    Here are their potential opponents:

    Ajax
    Dinamo Zagreb
    Maccabi Haifa
    Molde
    Olympiacos
    Servette
    Sturm Graz
    Union SG

    Copy linkCopiedEuropa League fixtures
    Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Rangers return to European action next month int he Europa League Last 16.
    The first legs are scheduled for March 7 and the second legs of the competition’s knockout stage will take place a week later on March 14.
    The British clubs will first play away and then host their opponents in the crucial return fixture.
    That means Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Rangers first fly to Sparta Prague, Roma, Freiburg and Benfica respectively.
    Copy linkCopiedEuropa League Draw
    Here’s the full fixtures list for the Last 16:

    Sparta Prague vs Liverpool
    Marseille vs Villarreal
    Roma vs Brighton
    Benfica vs Rangers
    Freiburg vs West Ham
    Sporting Lisbon vs Atalanta
    AC Milan vs Slavia Prague
    Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen

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    Europa League Draw

    Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen
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    Europa League Draw

    And finally…
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    Europa League Draw

    AC Milan vs Slavia Prague
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    Europa League Draw

    AC Milan to find out their opponents…
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    Europa League Draw

    Sporting Lisbon vs Atalanta
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    Europa League Draw

    Sporting Lisbon are next…
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    Europa League Draw

    Freiburg vs West Ham
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    Europa League Draw

    Freiburg will face…
    Copy linkCopiedEuropa League Draw
    Benfica vs Rangers
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    Europa League Draw

    Benfica are next…
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    Europa League Draw

    Roma vs Brighton
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    Europa League Draw

    Roma waiting for their next opponent…
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    Europa League Draw

    Marseille vs Villarreal
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    Europa League Draw

    Marseille are next…
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    Europa League Draw

    Sparta Prague vs Liverpool
    Copy linkCopiedEuropa League Draw
    Sparta Prague first out the pot
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    Europa League draw revealed as Liverpool face Sparta Prague, Brighton get horror draw and West Ham face familiar foe

    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
    Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballers
    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

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    Benfica star Joao Neves reduced to tears as fans chant in support of 19-year-old following mum’s death in Europa League

    BENFICA star Joao Neves was reduced to tears after a touching tribute from his fans at the Estadio da Luz tonight.The 19-year-old’s mother died last week after a long battle with cancer and the midfielder was emotional as soon as the final whistle blew.
    Joao Neves was emotional at the final whistleCredit: Reuters
    Neves thanked fans for their supportCredit: Reuters
    The Benfica faithful showed their support for Neves by chanting his name at the end of the game.
    And the support of his fans brought the young midfielder to tears.
    Benfica drew 0-0 with Toulouse on the night, which was enough to see them advance through to the next round.
    Neves has played 38 times in all competitions for Benfica this year, despite being just 19 years old.
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    He has already been capped three times by Portugal.
    A combative deep-lying midfielder in the Rodri mould, Neves was linked with a big money move to the Premier League in the summer and January.
    United were interested in the midfielder last summer, although the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo in his position may see their interest in him cool.
    He has also attracted the interest of Arsenal as they look to replace Thomas Partey in the summer.
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    Neves was thrust into the Benfica first team last year when he was just 18 to replace the outgoing Enzo Fernandez, who signed for Chelsea in a £107million deal.
    Benfica were playing in the play-off of the Europa League after dropping down from the Champions League this year.
    They will find out their opponents in the round of 16 in March. More