Freiburg, Union Berlin, and Leverkusen learn next UEL opponents
Germany's three 2022/23 Europa League opponents learned their forthcoming opponents after Friday's round-of-16 draw.
The three German top-tier sides have the dates of their next knockout round fixtures set after Friday's 2022/23 Europa League draw. SC Freiburg, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and 1. FC Union Berlin will contest the road to the competition's Final further next month. Leverkusen and Union face familiar opponents whilst Freiburg - in a first for their organization - have drawn Italian giants Juventus Turin.
SC Freiburg
After clinching play-off-round bye courtesy of an undefeated group stage, Germany's Breisgauer will enjoy hosting privileges against Italian record champions Juventus Turin. Christian Streich's men will first make the trip down south to play La Vecchia Signora, then welcome Massimilano Allegri's side to the Europa Park Stadion for the second leg. The two clubs have never met before.
Freiburg (at) Juventus (March 9th)
Juventus (at) Freiburg (March 16th)
Union Berlin
Last night's home victory against Ajax Amsterdam saw the capital city's Köpenick side through to the next round 3-1 on aggregate. Urs Fischer's Eisernen are now set to square off against one of their group stage opponents. Belgian's Union Saint-Gilloise split the difference with their German opponents some months back, prevailing 1-0 in their trip to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei yet also falling 0-1 at home in November.
Union Saint-Gilloise (at) Union Berlin (March 9th)
Union Berlin (at) Union Saint-Gilloise (March 16th)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
The dramatic late win on penalties last night puts Germany's red company team through to the round-of-16 again. This round proved their terminus last year as Gerardo Seoane's Werkself fell to Atalanta on aggregate. Xabi Alonso's Bayer will face another team that Seoane's men played in last year's competition. Hungary's Ferencvaros Budapest, 2021/22 Group Stage opponents, lie on the docket.
Ferencvaros and Leverkusen also split the difference in last year's group stage. The Germans took the home leg in September while the Hungarians prevailed in the December return leg. Ferencvaros will be fighting in the hopes of reaching a Final on home soil. Budapest's Puskas Arena is the site of the 2022/23 competition's championship match, to be played on May 31st.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (at) Ferencvaros (March 9th)
Ferencvaros (at) Bayer 04 Leverkusen (March 16th)