The Europa League round of 16 qualifiers - ranked
Up for grabs. | Soccrates Images/Getty Images
Congratulations to all of the sides who have made it through to the 108th stage of the Europa League - the round of 16.
Some big hitters went down swinging in the last 32, but only half of them can journey on and continue to have the privilege of blaring the anthem out in their home stadium.
With the draw in the bag, who are the favourites to win the competition? Let s take a look.
16. Molde
Team strengths: No longer being held back by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Hoffenheim and Molde to play at La Ceramica
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Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images
As folks who follow Spanish football will know, the COVID-19 restrictions of various countries has caused European football ties to get shifted around all over the place. Spanish teams have been finding neutral venues for their ties against English opposition, as restrictions on travel from the UK are still in place, and apparently Norway also has restrictions on who can enter their country, resulting in Molde and Hoffenheim playing what is supposed to be Molde’s home fixture in Spain at La Ceramica.
No word yet on whether the cardboard cutouts will be in attendance, but I certainly hope they are. Even they deserve to see someone win on that pitch every now and again.
He had turned down Aston Villa but decided Cardiff was the correct choice
A look at the turbulent early days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s managerial career. By The42 Team Sunday 27 Dec 2020, 3:54 PM Dec 27th 2020, 3:54 PM 37,529 Views 9 Comments
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pictured as Cardiff boss in 2014.
Image: Phil Cole
Image: Phil Cole
THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE is an extract from The Red Apprentice by Jamie Jackson.
The Bluebirds are down. Norwich City’s 0-0 draw at Chelsea puts them three points ahead of Cardiff City with a better goal difference of eight. There is a next-to-zero chance of them overturning this when Chelsea visit on the final day, and they do not – losing 2-1 – and so fall into the Championship after one season in the Premier League as the bottom-placed side with 30 points. OGS has overseen Cardiff City
The Europa League Round of 32 Qualifiers 90min.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 90min.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Leverkusen s Leon Bailey celebrates after scoring his side s opening goal during the Europa League Group C football match against Slavia Prague at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Ina Fassbender, Pool).
Jamaica international Leon Bailey scored two goals as Bayer Leverkusen sealed the top spot in Group C of the Europa League with a crushing 4-0 victory over Slavia Prague on Thursday.
Bailey s goals handed Leverkusen a 2-0 lead at half-time.
After the break, Moussa Diaby and Karim Bellarabi added to the lead to cement the victory.
The Bundesliga side topped the standings with 15 points, three more than its Czech opponent. Hapoel Beer-Sheva beat Nice 1-0 to finish third with six.