UEFA Europa League knockout round playoffs: AC Milan get Rennes, Feyenoord and Roma reunite for third time

Fallen Dutch giants Ajax headline Europa Conference League draw vs. Bodo/Glimt

By Jonathan Johnson

Dec 18, 2023 at 7:45 am ET • 1 min read

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The UEFA Europa League knockout round play-offs were drawn after the main Champions League event on Monday and Milan vs. Stade Rennais is arguably the tie of the round along with Feyenoord vs. AS Roma. Incredibly, this is the third consecutive year that the Dutch and Italian giants have been paired together with the 2021-22 Europa Conference League final followed by the 2022-23 Europa League quarterfinals with Jose Mourinho's men victorious on both occasions. However, both Italian sides face tricky opponents with Feyenoord motivated to avenge previous defeats to Roma and Rennes looking to trip up Milan over two legs in games that could have a big impact on the UEFA coefficient race.

Elsewhere, RC Lens will be happy to have drawn SC Freiburg, who will equally feel the draw could have been much harsher on them although RCL's French compatriots Toulouse have drawn a tough one in Portuguese giants Benfica. Sporting CP are up against Young Boys of Switzerland while former champions Shakhtar Donetsk have one-time Champions League winners Marseille coming up in their tie. Galatasaray vs. Sparta Praha has an underrated feel to it while Braga vs. Qarabag is one for the die-hard Europa League fanatics.

Confirmed UEL knockout round play-off ties

Feyenoord vs. Roma
Milan vs. Rennes
Lens vs. Freiburg
Young Boys vs. Sporting CP
Benfica vs. Toulouse
Braga vs. Qarabag
Galatasaray vs. Sparta Praha
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Marseille

The Europa League play-off draw is set. 🔒

Feyenoord vs AS Roma
AC Milan vs Stade Rennais
Lens vs Freiburg
Young Boys vs Sporting Club Portugal
Benfica vs Toulouse
Braga vs Qarabag
Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Olympique Marseille pic.twitter.com/AwGBSjUSOs
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 18, 2023

Meanwhile, in the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round playoffs, the main draw was struggling Dutch powerhouse Ajax who have been handed a challenging two-legged affair vs. Bodo/Glimt of Norway. Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Union SG is an enticing pairing and Real Betis vs. Dinamo Zagreb has underrated levels of pedigree in the UECL which could lead to a memorable two-legged showdown. A reminder that group winners such as Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen and Brighton and Hove Albion from the UEL and Aston Villa, Lille OSC and Fiorentina were not involved as the knockout round play-offs only concerns runners-up and teams dropping out of the UCL and UEL respectively.