Chelsea play Copenhagen in Conference League; Man Utd face Real Sociedad in Europa – live

Some more draw e-mails.

Charles Antaki: “Come to think of it, I think watching AZ Alkmaar/Tottenham/Ajax/Eintracht Frankfurt v BodoGlimt/Olympiakos/Viktoria Plzen/Lazio would be quite a spectacle. Spurs players might find themselves a bit disorientated and unable to do much with the ball, but they would be quite used to that.”

krishnamoorthy v: “Chelsea is an enigma. No other team could possibly equal its record of having won the League, the Cchampions League, Europa League and possibly the Conference League this season. In TG parlance, The Big Cup, the Big Vase, the Milk Cup, the Tin Pot cup, paper cups, invisible cups and what not. We can beat the City and lose to Brighton. Win 8-0 and lose 6-0. Terry can earn a red card just standing up. If we were a film character, we would be Maria from the Sound of Music. Exasperating.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has given his reaction to the Reds’ last-16 Champions League draw with PSG. Seems a bit ChatGPT but apparently he said this to Liverpoolfc.com.

“At this stage of the competition, the quality of opponent is only going to be of a very high standard and in PSG we have drawn a team and a club with real European pedigree.

“They qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League in style earlier this week with a big win against Brest and they had some really good results in the league phase, defeating Stuttgart, Manchester City, Girona and Salzburg.

“As is the case with ourselves, PSG are top of their domestic league and are enjoying a long unbeaten run. This tells us all that we need to know about the challenge that we will face but it is also a challenge that we will look forward to, knowing that we also fully deserve to be in the last 16.

“Of course, our immediate focus is on our upcoming Premier League fixtures, starting with Manchester City on Sunday, but we will be doing everything we can to ensure that we are in the best possible shape when the Champions League resumes.”

Chelsea have been drawn against FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League last 16.

Europa League draw and dates

Everton are now above Manchester United in the table. Who’d have thought that a few weeks ago.

Here’s Ben McAleer of WhoScored on why Everton’s decision to change managers midway through the season is working out a lot better than United’s. The two sides play each other in Saturday’s 12.30pm fixture.

West Ham are targeting a striker still involved in the Champions League – Lille frontman Jonathan David. A bid for Lazy Line Painter Jane could follow.

For some context, this is what the bookmakers think following the Champions League draw. The two Spanish giants head the betting. Liverpool and Arsenal come next.

10/3 Real Madrid, 9/2 Barcelona, 11/2 Liverpool, Arsenal, 7/1 Bayern Munich, 12/1 PSG, Inter, 20/1 Atletico Madrid, 33/1 Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, 50/1 Borussia Dormund, 66/1 Benfica, 100/1 Lille, 150/1 Club Brugge, PSV, 200/1 Feyenoord.

While Chelsea await their Tin Pot draw, boss Enzo Maresca is more concerned with getting a place at Europe’s top table again. The Italian reckons winning all their remaining seven home games should do the trick and secure a return to the Champions League. Good luck with that given that they’ve won only 50% of their top-flight matches at Stamford Bridge this season.

“We have 13 games to go and seven of them are at home,” said Maresca. “I think that winning the seven at home can be enough to finish top four.

“The difficult moment that we have now is probably because of the injury situation. We have five, six players that are significant players that are out. I watched again the first game against Villa (a 3-0 win in December) and we have five players probably that are out. The team has changed completely.

“I’ve been clear since day one. I’m not here to survive, I’m here to win games. I’m here to bring this club to fight for titles. The problem is that when you win games you look humble, and when you don’t win you look like a lack of ambition.

“I’m ambitious. The club is ambitious. We have the same manager and same players and same sporting director as two months ago when we were second in the league. Nothing has changed, only unfortunately that we are dealing with many injuries. This has affected the level of the team.”

Noni Madueke is the latest to be crocked and he could be out until April with hamstring knack.

Kári Tulinius writes: “I suppose we could have a Spurs v Man Utd final, but given how both have been playing lately, that requires a lot of teams having a series of improbably bad off days, starting with AZ Alkmaar and Real Sociedad, both of whom have been a lot better this season.”

The Conference League draw is at 2pm. Not sure we’ll cover that beyond telling you who Chelsea will play.

The final is in Wroclaw, Poland on 28 May.

Here’s our story from Nick Ames on the Champions League draw which threw up Liverpool v PSG.

“Arne Slot’s side will host the second leg of their meeting with PSG at Anfield, giving them a potential advantage against opponents who have clicked into form after a stuttering start in this season’s competition. PSG put 10 goals past their domestic rivals Brest in the playoffs and finished the league phase with impressive wins over Manchester City and Stuttgart.”

A reminder of the Europa League dates…

Round of 16: 6 & 13 March
Quarter-finals: 10 & 17 April
Semi-finals: 1 & 8 May
Final: 21 May (Bilbao)

So, digesting all that, we could have a Spurs v Man Utd final. And a Rangers v Man Utd semi.

And the semi-finals. First legs on left.

AZ Alkmaar/Tottenham/Ajax/Eintracht Frankfurt v BodoGlimt/Olympiakos/Viktoria Plzen/Lazio

Fenerbahce v Rangers v Roma/Athletic Bilbao v FCSB/Lyon v Real Sociedad/Man Utd

Now the quarter-finals. First legs on left.

BodoGlimt/Olympiakos v Viktoria Plzen/Lazio
AZ Alkmaar/Tottenham v Ajax/Eintracht Frankfurt
Fenerbahce v Rangers v Roma/Athletic Bilbao
FCSB/Lyon v Real Sociedad/Man Utd

And that leaves this…

Viktoria Plzen v Lazio
Roma v Athletic Bilbao

And now the Premier League duo…

AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham
Real Sociedad v Man Utd

Next up we have…

Ajax v Eintracht Frankfurt
FCSB v Lyon

It’s the Europa League draw for the last 16. Let’s go! Swirl the balls!

Bodo/Glimt v Olympiakos
Fenerbahce v Rangers

They’re now showing the short explainer video. Put the kettle on, grab a Twix/Jive.

Former Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz is doing the draw for this one. Makes sense given that the final is in Bilbao. Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers fans await their fate.

The Europa League draw is coming up soon, folks!

“When do the Europa League round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals take place?” asks Neil from the moon.

Round of 16: 6 & 13 March 2025
Quarter-finals: 10 & 17 April 2025
Semi-finals: 1 & 8 May 2025
Final: 21 May 2025 (Bilbao)

Here’s our look at the weekend Premier League games.

It includes Daniel Harris on Man City v Liverpool: “Should Liverpool win, it will be hard to see them being caught, but should they falter, the sense that they are a decent team taking advantage of serendipitous lapses elsewhere will compound. The question, though, is whether City are able to locate their energy and rhythm after a chastening experience in Madrid.”

Back to domestic matters and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking ahead of the Seagulls’ short trip to bottom-placed Southampton on Saturday.

Brighton were hammered 7-0 by Nottingham Forest but have won five of their last seven matches in all competitions, including a pair of victories against Chelsea in league and FA Cup.

So can Brighton push for a European place? They’re currently 10th but just two points off eighth spot which could secure it.

Hurzeler said: “Internally, we have clear goals and clear vision. But it is game by game. The Premier League and our season has shown things go from here to here. We worked hard for this momentum and it’s now about keeping that.

“After the loss to Forest, we tried to get back the intensity from the start of the season. We lost this intensity and energy through the season so we said we want to go back to our roots, back to the things that made us strong

“We want to be a team that is very hard to beat. We play against Southampton but we also play against ourselves and our limits. I demand from my team that we go with this intensity against Chelsea, but also Southampton so we have no difference in our approach.”

Champions League draw and dates

More reaction. Liverpool being shafted a bit seems a theme.

Ben Duxbury writes: “Hi Dave. There really was no benefit in finishing top of the league stage was there? Villa and Arsenal much better draws than Liverpool.”

Chris (a Liverpool fan): “So, if we get through all our games we will have to (in all probability) beat: PSG, Villa, Real Madrid and Barcelona in the final. Top seed my arse.”

Glynn from Leicester: “I’d love to know why they can’t just put 16 names in a hat, FA Cup style. Why all the chicanery? Only a cynic would suggest that every little foible in the draw format, every little complication, is designed to help keep the big teams apart till the ‘right’ time – but I’m not a cynic, so what can it possibly be?”

Barry Mcauley: “I don’t think Barcelona could have given themselves a handier draw to the semi finals if they’d have picked their prospective opponents themselves.

Timo in Germany: “As a German I have to tell you though that Leverkusen against Munich isn’t really a derby in terms of the teams being close together since the cities are 287 miles apart. Maybe I’m misunderstanding the term derby since english is not my first language, in which case forget about it.” Ah, yes, I kind of meant same country. It was me being clumsy!

Something else from the draw. “The winners of the semi-final on the silver side of the bracket are designated as the nominal home team for the final.”

I think that means Liverpool would play in red if they took on Bayern or Barcelona in the final. Okay, we’re getting ahead of ourselves here.

Liverpool will probably also be pleased that they can’t play Real Madrid in the final. That never goes well for the Reds, at least in modern, non-Alan Kennedy times.

So, if I’ve got this right, we can’t have an all-English final. Good, that never feels right anyway. Liverpool v Spurs was a shocker.

And it doesn’t stop there. And now the home and away order for the semis.

Semi-final 1:

PSV/Arsenal/Real Madrid/Atletico Madrid v PSG/Liverpool/Brugge/Aston Villa

Semi-final 2:

Benfica/Barcelona/Dortmund/Lille v Bayern/Leverkusen/Feyenoord/Inter

And now the quarter-final draw. Duos on the left play the first leg at home.

PSG/Liverpool v Brugge/Aston Villa
PSV/Arsenal v Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid
Benfica/Barcelona v Dortmund/Lille
Bayern/Leverkusen v Feyenoord/Inter

Another here’s another corker. Tough draw for Arne Slot’s side

PSG v Liverpool
Benfica v Barcelona

It’s Dutch opposition for the Gunners.

Arsenal v PSV
Feyenoord v Inter

Next up, oof!!! A derby double!!

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
Bayern Munich v Leverkusen

Let’s go. Balls are being swirled.
The first team out are Villa.

Aston Villa v Brugge
Lille v Dortmund

“I hope the procedure is clear,” deadpans UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti.

A video explains just how the draw works. I was confused eight seconds in. It’ll be done soon.

Live scenes from Nyon show some men in suits watching football highlights. Giovane Elber, a former Champions League winner with Bayern, is the special guest. He looks particularly smart.

More Champions League draw e-mails trickling in. Excitement building.

Derek Duffy writes: “Hi David. I haven’t sent you a question so thanks for not answering it.”

No probs.

Pedro notes: “I can’t help but see that the league phase top 8, alphabetically ordered, shows that all teams fall within the first half of the alphabet! I’m calling a conspiracy here.”

We do know possible last-16 opponents at least. So, for the Premier League teams we have these either/or scenarios:

Arsenal – Feyenoord or PSV
Aston Villa – Club Brugge or Dortmund
Liverpool – Benfica or PSG

Good grief. I’ve had some actual, real emails.

A practical one from Jason: “How quickly will we know fixture dates… need to book flight to Liverpool away game but need to know if Tues or Wed match! Need fast fingers before prices rocket!”

And a dose of reality from krishnamoorthy v: “Do not worry about lack of mails – we old faithfuls will never let you down. Why bother with this draw and the next three months when we know Real Madrid wins it anyway.”

The pretend questions are still not pouring in. Marilyn from Keswick: “How does the round of 16 draw work?”

I’ve absolutely no idea, Marilyn. It’s just waffle. So I’ll paste the official blurb from UEFA. Shrug emoji.

The clubs are paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase to form four seeded pairs (clubs in positions 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8).

The clubs in each seeded pair are drawn into one of two positions in the round of 16 against the relevant winner of the knockout phase play-offs, whose position was determined by the knockout phase play-off draw.

Four bowls are prepared for the draw, with the balls containing the names of each pair of seeded teams placed in the corresponding marked bowls according to the league rankings.

The draw allocates the side of the bracket for all the seeded teams, starting with the teams ranked 7/8 and finishing with the teams 1/2.

One ball is taken from the bowl containing the two relevant ranked teams (i.e. the teams ranked 7 and 8) and is opened to display the team. The first team drawn from this bowl is placed in their reserved spot on the silver side of the bracket (see bracket graphic below). The other seeded team of the pairing is then drawn and displayed, and allocated in the corresponding reserved spot on the blue side of the bracket (see below).

The same procedure is carried out with the remaining seeded teams.

In principle, the seeded clubs play the return leg at home.

Ron from Carlisle hasn’t been in touch: “Can teams from the same country face each other in the Champions League round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals?”

Yes Ron. And, get this, teams can even play against other teams they came up against in the league phase.

Bob from Plymouth now: “Hi Dave, when do the Champions League round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals take place?”

Here are the dates, B-dog.

Round of 16: 4/5 & 11/12 March
Quarter-finals: 8/9 & 15/16 April
Semi-finals: 29/30 April & 6/7 May
Final: 31 May (Munich)

Have a question about the Champions League draw? Using a series of fictional people who haven’t written in, I’ll answer your imagined queries.

Terry from Bridgend writes (he doesn’t): “Hi Dave, you’re looking well. Tell us the top eight from the league please in alphabetical order please. And follow that with the unseeded play-off winners, again alphabetically please.”

No probs Tezzer.

League phase top eight
Arsenal (England)
Aston Villa (England)
Atletico Madrid (Spain)
Barcelona (Spain)
Inter (Italy)
Leverkusen (Germany)
Lille (France)
Liverpool (England)

Play-off winners
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Bayern München (Germany)
Benfica (Portugal)
Club Brugge (Belgium)
Feyenoord (Netherlands)
Paris (France)
PSV (Netherlands)
Real Madrid (Spain)

Let’s start by setting the scene for the weekend Premier League action. It starts tonight with Brentford travelling to Leicester so don’t forget to transfer Bryan Mbeumo back into your fantasy team.

Friday
8pm Leicester v Brentford

Saturday
12.30pm Everton v Man Utd
3pm Arsenal v West Ham
3pm Bournemouth v Wolves
3pm Fulham v Crystal Palace
3pm Ipswich v Spurs
3pm Southampton v Brighton
5.30pm Aston Villa v Chelsea

Sunday
2pm Newcastle v Nottingham Forest
4.30pm Man City v Liverpool

Preamble