City and Utd handed tough ties
Tough draw for Roberto Mancini's men
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated: December 17, 2011 1:51pm
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Manchester City have been handed the toughest possible draw in the Europa League after drawing reigning champions Porto.
Europa League draw - Last 32
FC Porto v Manchester City
Ajax v Manchester United
Lokomotiv Moscow v Athletic Bilbao
Salzburg v Metalist Kharkiv
Stoke City v Valencia
Rubin Kazan v Olympiakos
AZ Alkmaar v Anderlecht
Lazio v Atletico Madrid
Steaua Bucharest v FC Twente
Plzen v Schalke
Wisla Krakow v Standard Liege
FC Braga v Besiktas
Udinese v PAOK
Trabzonspor v PSV Eindhoven
Hannover v Club Brugge
Legia Warsaw v Sporting Lisbon
Round of 16
Salzburg or Metalist Kharkiv v Rubin Kazan or Olympiakos
Legia Warsaw or Sporting Lisbon v FC Porto or Manchester City
Steaua Bucharest or FC Twente v Plzen or Schalke
Wisla Krakow or Standard Liege v Hannover or Club Brugge
Stoke City or Valencia v Trabzonspor or PSV Eindhoven
AZ Alkmaar or Anderlecht v Udinese or PAOK
Lazio or Atletico Madrid v FC Braga or Besiktas
Ajax or Manchester United v Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao
Manchester United soon followed City out of the hat, and they were handed another tough looking tie as they face Dutch giants Ajax.
And to complete a daunting looking English draw, Stoke City were handed a clash with Spanish big hitters Valencia.
The draw means that both United and City were drawn against clubs who dropped out of the Champions League, just as they did - as did Stoke.
Round of 16
The last 32 saw some other big tires pulled out with Athletico Madrid drawn with Lazio.
The Europa League also sees the next round drawn, so the English sides all learnt who they might face in the round of 16.
Manchester City would face Legia Warsaw or Sporting Lisbon, while United would take on Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao.
Stoke could find themselves up against Trabzonspor or PSV Eindhoven.
