Tough fights for Bayer and Union
Ronaldo’s United ask for Lewandowski’s Barça
07/11/2022 13:21
The Europa League playoff round of 16 is a duel of legends: FC Barcelona relegated to the Champions League meet Manchester United. Cristiano Ronaldo is currently under contract. Union Berlin meets Ajax Amsterdam. Bayer Leverkusen are looking forward to having a former player.
Union Berlin and Bayer 04 Leverkusen got extremely interesting lots for the Europa League intermediate round. At the start of the knockout stage of the European Cup, the Köpenickers will face Dutch top club Ajax Amsterdam. Werkself will play AS Monaco for a place in the round of 16. The first leg will be played on February 16. The return match was scheduled for 23 February. Union play first away and then at home, for Leverkusen it is the opposite.
The duel with the six-time European Cup winner and current Dutch champion is particularly interesting for Union top striker Sheraldo Becker. He studied at the famous Ajax football school. For Leverkusen, the meeting with the fifth in the French league will be a reunion with former Bayer scorer Kevin Volland. Union, second in the group stage, initially play away, while Bayer, relegated from the Champions League, enjoy home rights in the first leg.
Reaching the next round is Berliners’ biggest international success. Last year, the Irons were eliminated in the Conference League group stage. In 2001 the UEFA Cup ended after two rounds against Bulgarian club Litex Lovech. Leverkusen had missed the Champions League round of 16. Third in the group, coach Xabi Alonso’s team is relegated to the Europa League.
However, Manchester United have captured the most spectacular opponent. Cristiano Ronaldo’s team meets Robert Lewandowski and FC Barcelona. Whether the Portuguese superstar will still be there is more than questionable. There are persistent rumors that the 37-year-old will leave the Red Devils after the World Cup in the winter. Because he is no longer indispensable for his he coach Erik ten Hag. And he sits on the bench more often than he would like.
