Aston Villa draw Lille in the Europa League last 16, Nottingham Forest face Midtjylland, while Crystal Palace land AEK Larnaca in the Conference League.
The last-16 draws for the Europa League and Conference League were completed on Friday, mapping the next stage of the 2025-26 European campaign. English clubs learned their immediate paths, with fixtures scheduled across two decisive weeks in March. The draws also confirmed potential routes through the quarter-finals and beyond, adding clarity to the race for continental silverware.
Aston Villa were paired with Lille in one of the standout Europa League ties. Villa will travel to France for the first leg before hosting the return match at Villa Park. Unai Emery’s side finished second in the league phase, dropping just three points from eight games. That seeding ensures home advantage in the second leg, which could prove decisive.
Villa enter the tie with strong European momentum and experience under Emery, a four-time Europa League winner. Lille, meanwhile, bring physical intensity and recent knockout pedigree. The winners will advance to face either Roma or Bologna in the quarter-finals. That places Villa firmly in the tougher half of the bracket.
Nottingham Forest were drawn against Midtjylland, a familiar opponent from the league phase. Forest lost 3-2 at the City Ground earlier in the competition. This time, they host the first leg before travelling to Denmark for the decider. Forest reached this stage by defeating Fenerbahce 4-2 on aggregate in the play-offs.
The draw places Forest on the same side as Villa, opening the door to a possible all-English semi-final. However, Forest would still need to overcome either Stuttgart or Porto in the quarter-finals. Consistency has been an issue domestically, but their European form has offered encouragement.
Several heavyweight ties underline the competitiveness of this year’s Europa League. Porto face Stuttgart, while Roma meet Bologna in an all-Italian clash. Lyon, who topped the league phase, were paired with Celta Vigo. Elsewhere, Real Betis take on Panathinaikos.
The structure also confirms that seeded teams will play their second legs at home. That advantage extends into the quarter-finals for those finishing in the top four of the league phase. Every tie now carries added significance, with margins expected to be tight.
In the Conference League, Crystal Palace are England’s sole remaining representatives. They were drawn against AEK Larnaca, with Palace hosting the first leg before travelling to Cyprus. The Eagles lost 1-0 at home to Larnaca during the league phase, adding an edge of revenge.
Should Palace progress, they will meet either Fiorentina or Rakow Czestochowa in the quarter-finals. The Conference League final will be staged in Leipzig on May 27. Palace’s draw offers opportunity, but also demands discipline away from home.
The draws underlined how little room for error remains. Villa’s experience and home second leg stand out as major advantages. Forest face a psychological test against opponents who have already beaten them. Palace must manage travel and atmosphere in Cyprus, a factor that has troubled visiting sides.
Europa League and Conference League last-16 first legs will be played on March 12, with second legs on March 19. Quarter-finals follow on April 9 and April 16. The Europa League semi-finals are scheduled for April 30 and May 7, with the final in Istanbul on May 20. The Conference League final takes place one week later.
Lyon vs Celta Vigo
Aston Villa vs Lille
Midtjylland vs Nottingham Forest
Real Betis vs Panathinaikos
Porto vs Stuttgart
Braga vs Ferencvaros
Freiburg vs Genk
Roma vs Bologna
Crystal Palace vs AEK Larnaca
