Olympiacos’ possible opponents in UEL Round of 32

Olympiacos could face some European heavyweights in the Last 32 of the UEFA Europa League. AGONAsport takes a closer look at the Erythrolefki’s possible opponents.

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Olympiacos recorded a dramatic victory over Red Star Belgrade on the final matchday of UEFA Champions League group stage action to claim third place in Group B and earn a ticket to the UEFA Europa League knockout stages. Bayern Munich and Tottenham marched on to the knockout stages of the Champions League while Red Star’s European journey came to an end with their fourth-placed finish in the group.

Olympiacos will enter the Europa League knockout stages as an unseeded side, due to their low point tally (four points) in the Champions League group stages. Only Club Brugge finished with fewer points than Olympiacos among third-placed sides with three points.

For Monday’s draw, 32 teams will be separated into 16 seeded and 16 unseeded sides. The 16 seeded clubs will include the 12 Europa League group winners and the four best third-placed Champions League clubs (based on points earned in the group stages). The unseeded sides will include the 12 Europa League group stage runner-ups and the remaining four Champions League sides.

By being unseeded for the draw, Olympiacos could be paired with a European heavyweight such as Ajax, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Benfica, FC Porto, and Sevilla. More favorable opponents in the seeded bunch include Gent, LASK Linz, Malmo, and Basaksehir, who were one of Olympiacos’ opponents in Champions League qualifying earlier this season. A pairing with Basel, Braga, Celtic, Espanyol, or Salzburg will surely be a well-balanced tie over two legs.

Below are the seeded sides in Monday’s draw and thus possible opponents for Olympiacos

Ajax (NED)*

Arsenal (ENG)

Basel (SUI)

Benfica (POR)*

Braga (POR)

Celtic (SCO)

Espanyol (ESP)

Gent (BEL)

Internazionale Milano (ITA)*

İstanbul Başakşehir (TUR)

LASK (AUT)

Malmö (SWE)

Manchester United (ENG)

Porto (POR)

Salzburg (AUT)*

Sevilla (ESP)

The unseeded sides are as follows and cannot be drawn with Olympiacos

APOEL (CYP)

AZ Alkmaar (NED)

Bayer Leverkusen (GER)*

CFR Cluj (ROU)

Club Brugge (BEL)*

Copenhagen (DEN)

Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)

Getafe (ESP)

Ludogorets (BUL)

Olympiacos (GRE)*

Rangers (SCO)

Roma (ITA)

Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)*

Sporting CP (POR)

Wolfsburg (GER)

Wolves (ENG)

*transferring from UEFA Champions League

The draw for the Europa League round of 32 will take place on Monday, December 16th at 14:00 (GR).

by Sarantos Kaperonis

Image Source: to10.gr

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