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14 options for the Villarreal ball in the Europa League round of 32 draw. No chance to draw the winners of Group E (Rapid Wien) or L (Athletic Bilbao). It's worth noting that only Rapid, Napoli, Lazio, and Schalke took more than Villarreal's 13 points in the group stage.
Here's a quick look at the possibilities:
- Molde (Norway) - Group A winners. Topped a group containing Fenerbahce, Ajax, and Celtic, so not to be dismissed. Late February up north...
- Liverpool (England) - Group B winners. Squeaked through the group stage with just 2 wins. Will help the airport and gate fees...
- Kuban Krasnodar (Russia) - Group C winners. Currently 15th(!) in its domestic league. But won its group over Borussia Dortmund. Late February up north...
- Napoli (Italy) - Group D winners. Ran the table in the group stage. Could scudetto ambitions distract them? We know their potential - and how to beat them. Barriers will have to be stronger at El Madrigal...
- Braga (Portugal) - Group F winners. Play in the most beautiful stadium in the world? Beat out Marseille to win its group. Memories from our last deep European run...
- Lazio (Italy) - Group G winners. Currently 13th in Serie A. We know their potential - and how to beat them. Another attractive tie...
- Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia) - Group H winners. Topped its group ahead of Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas. Hi there, Vedran Corluka. Late February up north...
- Basel (Switzerland) - Group I winners. Domestic league leaders with a European pedigree. Beat out Fiorentina to top its group. No longer an easy proposition...
- Tottenham Hotspur (England) - Group J winners. Dangerous opponent; our homolog in the Premier League. Can we mind the (payroll) gap? Will help the airport and gate fees...
- Schalke 04 (Germany) - Group K winners. Perennially better in Europe than at home. German opposition has not treated us kindly. Another attractive tie...
- Porto (Portugal) - Champions League drop-down. Ended our last deep European run. A selling club with deep tentacles in South America - like Villarreal on steroids (and with Jorge Mendes). Do not want...
- Olympiacos (Greece) - Champions League drop-down. Domestic league leaders with a favorable history. Weakest of the third-place finishers? But always a challenge in the Greek inferno...
- Manchester United (England) - Champions League drop-down. Lost to Bournemouth this weekend; enough said. Has never scored against the boys in yellow. Will help the airport and gate fees...
- Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) - Champions League drop-down. German opposition has not treated us kindly - except for the aspirin-makers. Remember when Nilmar was healthy and banging in the goals? Hi there, Javier Hernandez. Do not want...
The draw begins at 7 am Eastern Time. Keep it locked here. Who would you like to face in the round of 32? And avoid?