Europa Conference League draw LIVE: Aston Villa to face Ajax after learning last 16 fate

Unai Emery’s team hope to emulate West Ham and lift the trophy after making it through to the knockout rounds

The Europa Conference League has reached the last 16 stage (AFP via Getty Images)

The Europa Conference League last 16 draw took place this afternoon with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa flying the flag as the lone British team in the competition.

Villa who qualified as one of the group winners alongside the likes of Club Brugge and Fiorentina where pulled out of the pot against Dutch side Ajax.

It is one of the more juicier ties for the next stage of the competition with Union Saint-Gilloise vs PAOK another potential eye opener.

Emery, who has plenty of success in European competition under his belt, will know that Villa have drawn one of the more dangerous teams but, combined with their impressive form in the Premier League this season, he will be confident about reaching the quarter-finals.

Relive the last 16 draw and reaction as Aston Villa seek to continue their European journey:

Europa Conference League last 16 draw

• Aston Villa drawn against Ajax in Europa Conference League last-16 drawn
• Villa are only British club left in the competition
• Last 16 ties take place on 7 and 14 March

[23 February 2024 08:59 · Jack Rathborn]

Europa League last 16 draw: Who are the seeded and unseeded teams?

Seeded teams

Atalanta (ITA)

Brighton (ENG)

Leverkusen (GER)

Liverpool (ENG)

Rangers (SCO)

Slavia Praha (CZE)

Villarreal (ESP)

West Ham (ENG)

Unseeded teams

AC Milan (ITA)

Benfica (POR)

Freiburg (GER)

Marseille (FRA)

Qarabağ (AZE)

Roma (ITA)

Sparta Praha (CZE)

Sporting CP (POR)

[23 February 2024 08:47 · Jack Rathborn]

Jurgen Klopp compares Liverpool’s ‘thunderstorm’ win over Luton with famous comeback against Barcelona

Jurgen Klopp broke his promise. A few months ago, he had vowed to stop talking about his greatest comeback, his greatest night. There can be a temptation to mention the most famous of his 472 games in charge of Liverpool, in part because it combined so many of the elements that have defined his reign. But after another four-goal comeback, he reached for the ultimate in his search for something reminiscent.

“I promised my team a few months ago that I would never mention the Barcelona game as an example and I used it again today so I broke my promise,” he said. “Just because this game was, before the game, kind of similar.”

It is not often Luton Town find themselves bracketed with Barcelona. It was the shared sense of adversity that prompted Klopp to make the comparison. He likes the idea of limitless possibilities, of making the improbable possible and then actual. Liverpool were underdogs against Barcelona and they definitely were not against Luton, they trailed by three goals to Lionel Messi and co and just one to Carlton Morris and his colleagues, but these were Liverpool sides with a difference, both depleted by injury.

[23 February 2024 08:40 · Jack Rathborn]

Xabi Alonso has ‘nothing new to say’ about Liverpool and Bayern Munich links

Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso has insisted there is “nothing new to say” regarding fresh speculation over his future.

Alonso has been heavily linked with the Liverpool job since Jurgen Klopp announced last month he would step down at the end of the campaign, but the Premier League club now face competition from Bayern Munich.

It was revealed on Wednesday that current Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel will leave his position at the conclusion of the season – increasing the scrutiny on Alonso.

[23 February 2024 08:33 · Jack Rathborn]

What time is the Europa League last 16 draw?

Europa League sides are set to find out their last-16 opponents when the draw takes place on Friday.

There will be plenty of Premier League interest, with Liverpool, West Ham and Brighton all safely through to the round of 16 after finishing top of their respective groups.

The English trio, alongside the other five group winners, are joined in the draw by the eight other teams who made it through the play-off round.

The play-off second legs concluded on Thursday and saw those who finished second in their Europa League group face a side who finished third in their respective Champions League group.