The UEFA Europa League draw took place at the headquarters of the European governing body in Nyon, Switzerland. Liverpool were the only English team in draw followed by two representatives from Spain, Sevilla and Villarreal. Ukranian team Shakhtar Donetsk completing the quartet.
Alexander Frei who is UEFA ambassador for 2016 was given the honor of picking the teams from the bowl. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will face Villarreal while the holders Sevilla will travel to Ukraine to play Shakhtar Donetsk
Rules:
The rules are similar to the ones followed in the UEFA Champions League draw. The first team to be picked will play the first leg of the tie. The draw is an open one with no restrictions placed on the ties.
UEFA Europa League semi-final draw
The first team to be drawn out of the bowl was Shakhtar Donetsk who will face the holders of the competition FC Sevilla. The Ukrainians had won the competition previously in 2009 when the tournament was still known as the UEFA Cup
Liverpool will travel to Villarreal for the first leg of their tie as Jurgen Klopp will attempt to win a trophy in his first season at the club which will also guarantee the Reds qualification for the Champions League.
This will be the first-ever meeting of the two teams in Europe. The Yellow Submarines have had a wonderful season in Spain so far but Klopp will be confident after doing the impossible against his old side Borussia Dortmund in the Quarter-finals
First Leg at Home | First Leg away | |
---|---|---|
Shakhtar Donetsk | vs | Sevilla |
Villarreal | vs | Liverpool |
The first legs of the Europa league semi-final stage will be on the 28th April and the second leg is on the 5th of May. The final will be held in the Switzerland’s city of Basel on the 18th of May.