Liverpool take on another team knocked out of the Champions League after being drawn against Romania side Unirea Urziceni in the last 32 of the Europa League here on Friday. Rafael Benitez's side finished third in Group E while Unirea were third in Group G, but scored an impressive 4-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox.
If they win, Liverpool will next meet the winner of the two-legged tie on February 18 and 25 between French club Lille and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce. Benitez insisted they would not be under-estimating their opponents. "It will be a tough game because they were in the Champions League," said Benitez.
"I was following their group because I have some friends in Sevilla and so I know it will be difficult. But we are Liverpool and we have to have confidence. "The main thing for me is that the game isn't until February so we have plenty of time to prepare and analyse the other team. "They went very close in the Champions League so we know it will be tough."
He added: "For us every competition and every game is important and the Europa League gives us an opportunity to win a trophy." Italian club Juventus face a stiff test as they drew Dutch club Ajax, and would meet either English side Fulham or titleholders Shakhtar Donetsk of the Ukraine.
Everton are up against Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, Spanish club Villareal meet German champions Wolfsburg, Greek club Panathinaikos face AS Roma and Portuguese side Benfica are paired with Hertha Berlin. In other last-32 ties, French side Marseille face FC Copenhagen, Athletic Bilbao play Anderlecht and Atletico Madrid are up against Galatasaray.
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps was pleased with their draw. "Obviously we could have done worse, Copenhagen are among the teams less famous on the international scene," he said. "What is really advantagous for us is that we host the return match at home."
DRAW FOR THE EUROPA CUP ROUND OF 32:
1. Rubin Kazan (ENG) - Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISR)
2. Atletico Bilbao (ESP) - Anderlecht (BEL)
3. FC Copenhagen (DEN) - Marseille (FRA)
4. Panathinaikos (GRE) - AS Roma (ITA)
5. Atletico Madrid (ESP) - Galatasaray (TUR)
6. Ajax (NED) - Juventus (ITA)
7. FC Bruges (BEL) - FC Valencia (ESP)
8. Fulham (ENG) - Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
9. Liverpool (ENG) - Unirea Urziceni (ROM)
10. Hamburg (GER) - PSV Eindhoven (NED)
11. Villareal (ESP) - Wolfsburg (GER)
12. Standard Liege (BEL) - Salzburg (AUT)
13. FC Twente (NED) - Werder Bremen (GER)
14. Lille (FRA) - Fenerbahce (TUR)
15. Everton (ENG) - Sporting Lisbon (POR)
16. Hertha Berlin (GER) - Benfica (POR)
First leg: February 18 (except Everton: February 16)
Second leg: February 25 (except Benfica, Galatasaray: February 23)
ROUND OF 16 MATCH DRAW:
Winners of Match 10 - Winners of Match 2
Winners of Match 1 - Winners of Match 11
Winners of Match 5 - Winners of Match 15
Winners of Match 16 - Winners of Match 3
Winners of Match 4 - Winners of Match 12
Winners of Match 14 - Winners of Match 9
Winners of Match 6 - Winners of Match 8
Winners of Match 7 - Winners of Match 13
First Leg: March 11
Second Leg: March 18.
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