Rangers face Sporting Lisbon Europa League test Rangers boss Walter Smith Rangers finished third in their Champions League group Scottish Premier League champions Rangers have been drawn against Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the last 32 of the Europa League. High-flying Manchester City, who are third in the Premier League, will travel to Greece to play Aris Salonika for the first leg. Aris beat Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital with a 3-2 away win, a result which knocked the holders out. Liverpool visit the Czech Republic capital to play Sparta Prague. Roy Hodgson's side drew four of their six group games while Czech champions Sparta drew three of their group matches. If all three teams progressed to the last 16, then City would face Besiktas or Dynamo Kiev, Liverpool would play Lech Poznan or Braga while Rangers would take on either Lille or PSV Eindhoven. Like City, Aris are under the guidance of a former Inter Milan manager in Hector Cuper. They are currently in fifth place in the Greek Super League. The Argentine has extensive experience in Europe, having previously managed Mallorca, Valencia, Real Betis and Parma. 606: DEBATE Aris - we must be favourites to progress to the next round dazzlingdublinblue However, City are among the form teams in England, unbeaten in nine matches and third in the Premier League. "They have a very experienced coach who has done very well in Europe with Valencia and Inter Milan," City's football administrator Brian Marwood told BBC Radio 5 live. "But we feel we have a very strong group of players. The aim was to do well both domestically and in Europe and the squad is developing game-by-game and the balance is getting better." Other intriguing ties include Seville against Porto, who between them won three of the five Uefa Cup finals between 2003 and 2007 while Ajax take on Anderlecht of Belgium. All first legs will be played on 7 February with the return games taking place a week later, while the last 16 is scheduled for March 10 and 17. Full Europa League draw (last 32): Napoli v Villarreal Rangers v Sporting Sparta Prague v Liverpool Anderlecht v Ajax Lech Poznan v Braga Besiktas v Dynamo Kiev Basle v Spartak Moscow Young Boys v Zenit St Petersburg Aris Salonika v Man City PAOK Salonika v CSKA Moscow Sevilla v FC Porto Rubin Kazan v FC Twente Lille v PSV Benfica v VfB Stuttgart Bate Borisov v PSG FC Metalist Kharkiv v Bayer Leverkusen Full Europa League draw (last 16): Benfica or VfB Stuttgart v Bate Borisov or PSG Besiktas or Dynamo Kiev v Aris Salonika or Man City Rubin Kazan or FC Twente v Young Boys or Zenit St Petersburg PAOK Salonika or CSKA Moscow v Sevilla or FC Porto Lille or PSV v Rangers or Sporting FC Metalist Kharkiv or Bayer Leverkusen v Napoli or Villarreal Anderlecht or Ajax v Basle or Spartak Moscow Sparta Prague or Liverpool v Lech Poznan or Braga |
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طرائف الناس
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