Last Monday’s draw for the round of 32 knockout stage in the Europa league is likely to have met with a mixed response from Olympiakos fans and players.

Most neutrals believe that unseeded Olympiakos received a relatively favourable draw against Turkish club Osmanlispor. Although the Greeks will fancy its chances, Olympiakos coach Bento responded to the draw, saying he expects the Turkish club to be a very tough opponent for the Greek super league leader. The recent bombings outside Besiktas stadium, which claimed 38 lives, casts a heavy pall over any prospective visit to Turkey for both Olympiakos players and fans.

Osmanlispor qualified for the Europa League after finishing fifth in the Turkish Super Lig last season and is currently sitting in seventh place in its domestic competition. Coached by Mustafa Resit Akcay, it proved one of the surprise packets of the group stage, finishing top of its group ahead of Villareal, Steaua Bucharest and Zurich.

The two teams will be meeting each other for the first time in European competition, with the first leg scheduled for 16 February at Karaiskakis, followed a week later by the second leg in Ankara.

In contrast, Thessaloniki’s PAOK meets a more familiar opponent, albeit a more formidable one, in Schalke from the Bundesliga. The German team impressed in the group stage, winning five of its six matches, against Krasnoda, Salzburg and Nice. Currently sitting 10th on the Bundesliga table, it possesses a potent forward line led by Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and captain Bendikt Howedes.

The two have met on nine occasions, with Schalke leading three wins to PAOK’s two. The most recent meeting was in 2013-14 in a Champions League qualifying play-off when Schalke won 4-3 on aggregate. PAOK hosts Schalke in the first leg on 16 February at Toumba, with the return leg in Germany a week later.

Cypriot champion Apoel Nicosia, which topped its group in the qualifying stages, faces difficult Spanish opponent Athletico Bilbao in the round of 32 knockout stage.

There are no Greek clubs remaining in the Champions League, however, three Greek Internationals feature in one of the Round of 16 ties. Benfica’s Kostas Mitroglou and Andreas Samaris will go head to head with Greek national side teammate Sokratis Papastothopoulos, who is part of Borussia Dortmund’s defence.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND OF 32 DRAW RESULTS
Athletic Bilbao (ESP) – APOEL (CYP)
Legia Warsaw (POL) – Ajax (NED)
Anderlecht (BEL) – Zenit (RUS)
Astra (ROU) – Genk (BEL)
Manchester United (ENG) – Saint Etienne (FRA)
Villarreal (ESP) – Roma (ITA)
Ludogorets (BUL) – FC Kobenhavn (DEN)
Celta (ESP) – Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Olympiacos (GRE) – Osmanlispor (TUR)
Gent (BEL) – Tottenham (ENG)
Rostov (RUS) – Sparta Prague (CZE)
Krasnodor (RUS) – Fenerbahce (TUR)
Borussia Monchengladbach (GER) – Fiorentina (ITA)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) – Lyon (FRA)
Hapoel Be’er Sheva (ISR) – Besiktas (RUS)
PAOK (GRE) – Schalke (GER)