AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Clubs, Story, UEFA Europa League


Shaka Hislop and Mark Donaldson react to the UEL round of 16 draw, and touch on Milan sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli’s odd retort directed at Arsenal.
Get caught up on the biggest story lines to emerge from the Europa League round of 32.
Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal did the job to qualify for the Europa League last 16, but laments how ‘complacent’ and ‘open’ they were against Ostersunds.

Arsenal have been drawn to face Italian side AC Milan in the Europa League round of 16, while Atletico Madrid meet Lokomotiv Moscow and Borussia Dortmund are paired with Salzburg.

The Gunners suffered the embarrassment of losing 2-1 at home to Swedish side Ostersunds in the second leg of their first knockout round match on Thursday night, but progressed 4-2 on aggregate.

They will now take on Milan, a team with great continental pedigree. The Rossoneri have won the European Cup and Champions League seven times but have struggled in recent years, and are currently seventh in Serie A.

Dortmund, who finished third to Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid in the group stage of the Champions League, were drawn against Red Bull’s Austrian club Salzburg in the round of 16.

Dortmund advanced by knocking out Atalanta, though their 1-1 draw in Italy on Thursday was tainted by striker Michy Batshuayi’s allegations of racist abuse from the home supporters during the match.

Atletico and Lokomotiv will have to travel the greatest distances in the round of 16 as they were drawn together, with the first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano. Atletico, the winners in 2010 and 2012, knocked out FC Copenhagen, while Lokomotiv advanced past Nice.

In their first season of European competition, RB Leipzig — another Red Bull-sponsored club — will welcome Zenit St Petersburg to the Red Bull Arena. Leipzig knocked out Napoli in the round of 32 on away goals, and Zenit, who won the Europa League in 2008, recovered from losing 1-0 at Celtic in the first leg to win 3-0 at home on Thursday to advance.

CSKA Moscow, who won the competition in 2005, will welcome Lyon in the first leg before travelling to France for the second leg. Lyon, a semifinalist last year and the host of the final in May, knocked Villarreal out behind a 3-1 first-leg victory, while CSKA won the return leg against Red Star Belgrade at home after a goalless draw away.

Marseille, who knocked out Braga in the previous round, were drawn against Athletic Bilbao, with the first leg to take place in France. Athletic’s game against Spartak Moscow on Thursday was marred by clashes between supporters of both sides outside the stadium that led to the death of a 51-year-old police riot officer.

Lazio, who advanced by defeating Stauea Bucharesti, were drawn against Dynamo Kyiv and will host the first leg of the round of 16, and Sporting CP will welcome Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie.

Full draw

Lazio vs. Dynamo Kiev
RB Leipzig vs. Zenit St Petersburg
Atletico Madrid vs. Lokomotiv Moscow
CSKA Moscow vs. Lyon
Marseille vs. Athletic Bilbao
Sporting Lisbon vs. Viktoria Plzen
Borussia Dortmund vs. Salzburg
AC Milan vs. Arsenal

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.



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