Title: SC Freiburg and RC Lens Set for Europa League Showdown
Get ready for an exciting Europa League clash as SC Freiburg takes on RC Lens in the intermediate round. This mouthwatering encounter is set to take place on February 15 and 22, with Freiburg first venturing to Lens before hosting their French opponents at the Europa-Park Stadion in the second leg.
Christian Streich's Freiburg finished second in the Europa League group stage, narrowly missing out on first place and the opportunity to skip the play-off round. Based in Baden-Württemberg, they will look to overcome the challenge posed by Lens, currently seventh in Ligue 1.
On the other side, Lens ended third in Champions League Group B and will be eager to cement their place in the Europa League round of 16. And let's not forget Shakhtar Donetsk, who are set to entertain Olympique Marseille at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion on February 15.
Donetsk are currently playing their international home games in Hamburg due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As third in their Champions League group, they will be looking to continue their Europa League run after the winter break. Meanwhile, Marseille, led by Italian world champion Gennaro Gattuso, are aiming to make up for their past failures in European competitions, having lost Europa League and UEFA Cup finals in 1999, 2004, and 2018, respectively.
Notable teams progressing directly to the Europa League round of 16 include Lazio, Athletic Club, Manchester United, Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, and Rangers. But stay tuned, as teams like Ferencváros, Porto, AZ Alkmaar, Midtjylland, Union SG, PAOK, Twente, and Fenerbahçe will also be fighting for their spots in the next round for a chance to face the likes of Freiburg and Lens.
Let the action commence!
Sidenote: SC Freiburg's Christian Streich has proven himself to be a shrewd tactician, leading his team to second place in the Europa League group stage. Freiburg's strong performances under Streich have been a testament to their team spirit and strategic prowess. The team's coordinated plays and solid defense are notable strengths, contributing to their impressive run in the competition.
Moreover, Christian Streich's man-management skills have played a crucial role in guiding his team, fostering a positive atmosphere that encourages individual and collective growth. His formidable leadership has certainly kept Freiburg in the mix and prepared them to navigate the challenges ahead.
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- Freiburg's impressive second-place finish in the Europa League group stage sets up a match against Lens in the intermediate round.
- Christian Streich has led SC Freiburg to a strong showing, putting them in position to challenge for a place in the Europa League round of 16.
- The German side will first travel to Lens on February 15, before hosting the French team at the Europa-Park Stadion in the second leg on February 22.
- Having finished second in their group behind Premier League club West Ham United, Freiburg were unable to avoid the play-off round, which could have given them a direct path to the round of 16
- Meanwhile, Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen will go straight to the Europa League round of 16 as the group stage champions.
- Shakhtar Donetsk, currently playing their home games in Hamburg due to the conflict in Ukraine, will face Olympique Marseille in the Europa League clash on February 15.
- Gennaro Gattuso's Marseille, who have lost Europa League and UEFA Cup finals in 1999, 2004, and 2018 respectively, will aim to secure a spot in the competition's latter stages with a victory against Donetsk. Source:
ENRICHMENT DATA:
Notable Teams Progressing to the Round of 16
- Lazio (ITA) - Automatically qualified from the league phase
- Athletic Club (ESP) - Automatically qualified from the league phase
- Manchester United (ENG) - Automatically qualified from the league phase
- Tottenham (ENG) - Automatically qualified from the league phase
- Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) - Automatically qualified from the league phase
- Lyon (FRA) - Automatically qualified from the league phase
- Olympiacos (GRE) - Automatically qualified from the league phase
- Rangers (SCO) - Automatically qualified from the league phase
Knockout Phase Play-off Ties
- Ferencváros (HUN) vs Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
- Porto (POR) vs Roma (ITA)
- AZ Alkmaar (NED) vs Galatasaray (TUR)
- Midtjylland (DEN) vs Real Sociedad (ESP)
- Union SG (BEL) vs Ajax (NED)
- PAOK (GRE) vs FCSB (ROU)
- Twente (NED) vs Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
- Fenerbahçe (TUR) vs Anderlecht (BEL)
Schedule for the Round of 16 Draw
The round of 16 draw will take place on February 21, 2025, at 13:00 CET at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. The top eight sides from the league phase will be seeded, meaning they will play their return legs at home. The knockout phase play-off winners will join the top eight in the draw.
