Source: Telegraph
Europa League preview: guide to last 32
ANDERLECHTManager: Ariel JacobsPlayer to watch: Romelu LukakuAim: Pipped Ajax for top spot in Group A at the death and threatening to run away with the Belgian league, Anderlecht could reach the quarter finals - with favourable draws - but are unlikely to be feared by Liverpool, Everton or Fulham.[LNB]VALENCIAManager: Unai EmeryPlayer to watch: David VillaAim: While their well-documented financial woes have seen Sevilla leapfrog them as challengers to the Barcelona-Madrid duopoly in Spain, Valencia stand a real chance of repeating their 2004 success in this competition. The side to avoid in this morning's draw.[LNB] Related ArticlesTransfer Talk beginsHenry Winter: Champions League draw could stir emotionsChampions League drawBeckham wants United tieLiverpool to follow Arsenal blueprintSport on televisionHAPOEL TEL AVIVManager: Eli GuttmanPlayer to watch: Samuel YeboahAim: Surprise victors in Group C, ahead of Hamburg and knocking out Celtic, Hapoel proved they will be no pushovers. As seeds, they will expect to reach the last 16, but may struggle to go beyond what would already be uncharted territory for an Israeli side.[LNB]SPORTINGManager: Paulo BentoPlayer to watch: Joao MoutinhoAim: Bento, a former player at the Jose Alvalade, has struggled to keep pace with Benfica, Porto and even Braga in recent years and, although in Moutinho and Miguel Veloso he possesses two of the stars of Portugal's World Cup side, the quarter finals may be a stretch.[LNB]ROMAManager: Claudio RanieriPlayer to watch: Mirko VucinicAim: Francesco Totti may attract all of the ardour from the Stadio Olimpico stands, but it is in Vucinic, the Montenegrin striker, and David Pizarro that provide Ranieri with a threat to take the Italians to the semi-finals.[LNB]GALATASARAYManager: Frank RijkaardPlayer to watch: Arda TuranAim: As with any Rijkaard side, the Turks play attractive, attacking football and have an abundance of quality in their squad. A tie with Liverpool would appeal to nostalgia, not just for a return to Istanbul but because of the presence of European Cup winners Milan Baros and Harry Kewell. Potential finalists, but more likely the quarters.[LNB]RED BULL SALZBURGManager: Huub StevensPlayer to watch: Marc JankoAim: On paper, the easiest draw among a tough-looking field of seeds, but the ease with which they qualified from a group including Villarreal and Lazio suggests otherwise. If Janko leaves in January, they will be eliminated immediately.[LNB]FENERBAHCEManager: Maksut OzcanPlayer to watch: Dani GuizaAim: Less imposing, on paper at least, than their city rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahce are leading Frank Rijkaard's side in the Super Lig and, such is their Champions League pedigree, should not be taken lightly. Still among the weakest of the seeds.[LNB]BENFICAManager: Jorge JesusPlayer to watch: Angel Di MariaAim: Utterly, irresistibly brilliant when destroying Everton in Lisbon in the group stages, Benfica have the attacking prowess to win the competition, though question marks remain over their defence. Will pose any team problems on their day, and they should be aiming for the semi-finals and more.[LNB]SHAKHTAR DONETSKManager: Mircea LucescuPlayer to watch: Darijo SrnaAim: The current holders, humiliated in the Champions League qualifying stages, will be difficult to dislodge from their perch. Srna, should he stay during the January transfer window, drives forward a side packed with Brazilian flair at the front and stout at the back. Certain quarter finalists.[LNB]PSV EINDHOVENManager: Fred RuttenPlayer to watch: Ibrahim AfellayAim: In 2005, Guus Hiddink's team were desperately unlucky to miss out on a place in the final against AC Milan, but their prospects have receded significantly in recent years. A shadow of their former selves, all three English sides would fancy their chances.[LNB]WERDER BREMENManager: Thomas SchaafPlayer to watch: Mesut OzilAim: Finalists last season, but, after the departure of the inspirational Diego, unlikely to manage that feat again. Ozil and Marko Marin add creative spark to the midfield, but hard to see Werder getting beyond the quarter finals this season.[LNB]JUVENTUSManager: Ciro FerraraPlayer to watch: DiegoAim: Only out of the Champions League because of the quality of their group - and even then, Bayern Munich only overtook the Italian side at the death - Juve are capable of winning the tournament, should they be so minded.[LNB]WOLFSBURGManager: Armin VehPlayer to watch: Edin DzekoAim: Eliminated from the Champions League more by luck than judgment, the German champions may be troubled domestically - Veh may not be in the hotseat in February, for a start - but they will pose most opponents problems with their quick, direct approach. Quarter finalists.[LNB]MARSEILLEManager: Didier DeschampsPlayer to watch: Lucho GonzalezAim: Expensively acquired over the summer, Marseille have a squad capable of reaching the quarter finals of the Champions League, and that they are not in a position to do so is more a testament to the strength of their group. The semi-finals look a good bet.[LNB]UNIREA URZICENIManager: Dan PetrescuPlayer to watch: Raul RusescuAim: In years gone by, any side who could win 4-1 at Ibrox would warrant respect, but - apologies to Rangers - that may no longer be a reliable yardstick. All three English sides would expect to beat the Romanian champions in the last 32.[LNB]and the teams to come in later rounds...[LNB]AJAXManager: Martin JolPlayer to watch: Luis SuarezAim: Adrift of PSV and Steve McClaren's Twente in the Eredivisie, Ajax are one of the most famous names in the competition and, in Suarez, boast one of the most exciting players in Europe, but they would do well to get beyond the last 16.[LNB]LILLEManager: Rudi GarciaPlayer to watch: Eden HazardAim: Qualified ahead of Genoa, no mean feat, and boast one of France's most highly-rated managers in Garcia, recruited from Le Mans. The last 16, though, is probably the limit of their ambitions given the strength of the opposition.[LNB]HAMBURGManager: Bruno LabbadiaPlayer to watch: Piotr TrochowskiAim: Labbadia took over from Martin Jol when the former Tottenham manager left for Ajax but he has retained the core of the squad which eliminated Manchester City on the way to the semi-finals last season. An attractive side, they will want to reach at least the quarter-finals this time.[LNB]HERTHA BERLINManager: Friedhelm FunkelPlayer to watch: Gojko KacarAim: Strange as it is to say, they have never really recovered from the loss of Andriy Voronin. The Liverpool forward fired an unlikely title campaign last season, returned to Anfield and Hertha now find them struggling against relegation. They have more important things on their minds.[LNB]PANATHINAIKOSManager: Nikos NioplasPlayer to watch: Sotiris NinisAim: None of the seeds will relish the prospect of travelling to Greece for the first leg of the last 32, and should the draw be kind to a Panathinaikos side boasting another pair of Liverpool rejects - Djibril Cisse and Sebastian Leto - as well as Gilberto Silva, the last 16 will be the least they expect.[LNB]VILLARREALManager: Ernesto ValverdePlayer to watch: Santi CazorlaAim: Although the loss of Manuel Pellegrini to Real Madrid and the gradual decline in the quality of their side means Villarreal are not a patch on the 2006 Champions League semi-finalists, they retain the quality to reach the same stage of this competition.[LNB]FC TWENTEManager: Steve McClarenPlayer to watch: Blaise KufoAim: Well, well, well. Steve McClaren, manager of European pedigree, top of the Dutch league and in the last 32 of the Europa League. The former England coach has rebuilt his reputation in Holland, but sadly his side are likely to be eliminated before he has the chance to meet Premier League opposition.[LNB]CLUB BRUGGEManager: Adrie KosterPlayer to watch: Jonathan BlondelAim: Unlikely to pose any problems should they draw any of the big guns in the last 32, Brugge are traditionally defensively sound and technically accomplished, but they lack the quality to make any real impact.[LNB]FC COPENHAGENManager: Stale SolbakkenPlayer to watch: William KvistAim: Seen off by Manchester City at the last 32 stage last season, the suspicion remains that all but one or two of the seeded sides would be able to do the same this time around. Copenhagen in February is hardly a pleasant trip, though.[LNB]ATHLETIC BILBAOManager: Joaquin CaparrosPlayer to watch: Iker MuniainAim: The Basque-only squad are a remarkable story of tradition and history in an age of corporate branding and customer-oriented fan experiences. Such pride is unlikely to take a workmanlike team beyond the last 16, though.[LNB]RUBIN KAZANManager: Gurban BurdiyewPlayer to watch: Cristian AnsaldiAim: It will come as a relief on Merseyside and on the banks of the Thames that Rubin will not appear on English radar until the last 16 at the earliest. A genuine threat, but hamstrung by the timing of the Russian season.[LNB]APOEL NICOSIAManager: Ivan JovanovicPlayer to watch: Joost BroerseAim: To extend their European holiday for as long as possible. Unlikely to last beyond the last 32, but their two games with Chelsea proved they are not to be dismissed lightly, despite an apparent lack of quality.[LNB]STANDARD LIEGEManager: Laszlo BoloniPlayer to watch: Steven DefourAim: Only relegated to the lesser competition by Arsenal's decision to damage the integrity of the Champions League by fielding their under-11s against Olympiakos, Standard could do well out of the injustice. Good enough to reach the semi-finals at least.[LNB]Here come the English...[LNB]LIVERPOOLManager: Rafael BenitezPlayer to watch: Fernando TorresAim: Anfield has endured enough humiliation this season, and the club's European reputation is in dire need of a boost. Liverpool, on current form, will get no further than the quarter finals, but reaching the standards of last year would be enough to get them to the final.[LNB]EVERTONManager: David MoyesPlayer to watch: Steven PienaarAim: It is almost impossible to judge Everton on the evidence of this season, so mired in injury crisis have they been, but Moyes has treated the Europa League with respect and will continue to do so. The quarter finals, certainly, are a possibility if the draws go in their favour.[LNB]FULHAMManager: Roy HodgsonPlayer to watch: Brede HangelandAim: Exceeded expectations by beating Basel to second spot behind Roma, Fulham are now essentially in pressure-free territory. The last 16, should they avoid the likes of Valencia today, is a possibility, although a comparatively small squad may count against them.[LNB]
