Winner of Shakhtar Donetsk, Olympique de Marseille qualified for the round of 16 of the Europa League while Lille will play those of the Conference League. The last representatives of Ligue 1 in these two competitions, the Phocéens and the Mastiffs could come across prestigious opponents during the draw carried out this Friday in Nyon (Switzerland) at the UEFA headquarters.
From 12 p.m. this Friday, Giorgio Marchetti will still be one of the most watched men in European football. The UEFA draw manager will be responsible for determining the posters for the round of 16 of the Ligue Europa. After a complicated Thursday for Ligue 1 with the eliminations of Lens, Rennes and Toulouse, OM are the last French representative in the event.
Led then stunning against Shakhtar Donetsk (3-1, 5-3 in aggregate), the Phocaeans have their qualification firmly in place. But the draw for the round of 16 (from 12 p.m. on RMC Sport) could have a very complicated draw in store for them.
>> Relive the OM-Shakhtar match (3-1)
OM want to avoid Leverkusen and Liverpool
Not benefiting from seeded status, the team led by Jean-Louis Gasset risks facing a formidable opponent. Unsurprisingly, OM will want to avoid Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, probably the fittest team in Europe at the moment. Above all, and this probably constitutes the worst draw for the Phocaeans, we must not fall on Liverpool. For Jürgen Klopp’s last season on the Reds bench, his group dreams of offering him the last title missing from his record: the Europa League.
Conversely, and despite a tricky trip to the Czech Republic, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and other Amine Harit will surely want to face Slavia Prague in the round of 16. Respectively ninth in the Premier League or thirteenth in La Liga, West Ham and Villarreal could also be affordable draws. Ditto for Rangers despite the hot atmosphere at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow. But let it be said, the jackpot for OM does indeed seem to be Slavia Prague.
Worst draw for OM: Liverpool
The best draw for OM: Slavia Prague
A big one to avoid for Lille (but it could help France)
Following the draw for the Europa League, UEFA will also draw for the Conference League (at 1 p.m. on RMC Sport). First in its group, Lille avoided the play-offs and will be among the top seeds when it comes time to make up the posters for the C4 round of 16.
Good news for the Mastiffs who will thus avoid Aston Villa, Fiorentina or even the Stambouliotes of Fenerbahçe. But Jonathan David’s partners can still inherit a tough rival with Ajax. Certainly, a confrontation against the Amsterdam club would quickly settle the battle between France and the Netherlands in the UEFA index, but the chances of qualification would be a little reduced. Worst opponent on paper, Ajax seems more dangerous than the other teams still in the running.
Be wary all the same, the trap remains possible against Dinamo Zagreb, defeater of Nabil Fekir’s Betis, or against the explosive Belgian formation of Union Saint-Gilloise. For the rest, Paulo Fonseca and his players may want to meet the Israelis of Maccabi Haifa, forced to play on neutral ground, or the Genevans of Servette FC.
Worst draw for Lille: Ajax
The best draw for Lille: Maccabi Haifa (on neutral ground)
Jean-Guy Lebreton Journalist RMC Sport