Arsenal draw Sporting Lisbon and Man United face Betis in Europa League last-16

ARSENAL WILL play Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League round of 16, while Manchester United were drawn against Real Betis.

The Gunners, who entered this stage as group winners, will meet the Portuguese side in two legs on 9 March and 16 March.

It remains to be seen how much importance Mikel Arteta attaches to the competition given his side’s position in the Premier League title race and the grueling Thursday-Sunday schedule it takes to win it.

But they face opponents who are no strangers to north London this season as Sporting were in Tottenham’s Champions League group before Christmas.

They beat Spurs 2-0 in Lisbon and drew 1-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but finished third in the group and advanced to the Europa League play-off round, where they easily defeated FC Midtjylland.

Manchester United’s reward for triumphing in the heavyweight duel against Barcelona in the play-off round is more Spanish opponents after being paired with Betis.

Although United have struggled with Spanish opponents in Europe in recent years, their landmark victory over Barca makes them the team to beat in the tournament they won in 2017.

Betis are fifth in La Liga and won their group ahead of Roma.

Jose Mourinho’s side play Real Sociedad, Juventus against Freiburg and six-time champions Sevilla against Fenerbahce.

Elsewhere, it’s the Unions’ battle as Berlin take on Belgian club Saint-Gilloise, Bayer Leverkusen play Ferencvaros and Shakhtar Donetsk draw against Feyenoord.

West Ham meet Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League round of 16.

The Hammers, in the middle of a Premier League relegation battle, won all six group games before Christmas.

They visit Cyprus on March 9th with the second leg at the London Stadium on March 16th.

Draw in the round of 16 of the Europa League

• FC Union Berlin (GER) – Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)
• Sevilla FC (ESP) – Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)
• Juventus (ITA) – SC Freiburg (GER)
• Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) – Ferencvarosi TC (HUN)
• Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) – Arsenal FC (ENG)
• Manchester United (ENG) – Real Betis Balompie (ESP)
• AS Roma (ITA) – Real Sociedad de Futbol (ESP)
• FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) – Feyenoord (NED)

Draw in the round of 16 of the Europa Conference League

• AEK Larnaca FC (CYP) – West Ham United FC (ENG)
• ACF Fiorentina (ITA) – Sivasspor (TUR)
• SS Lazio (ITA) – AZ Alkmaar (NED)
• KKS Lech Poznan (POL) – Djurgårdens IF (SWE)
• FC Basel 1893 (SUI) – SK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
• FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) – OGC Nice (FRA)
• RSC Anderlecht (BEL) – Villarreal FC (ESP)
• KAA Gent (BEL) – İstanbul Başakşehir FK (TUR)

The teams listed first play the first leg at home

All first legs take place on March 9; All second legs will take place on March 16th