AC Milan face Rennes in Europa League knockout round

By Peter Ochieng

Italian Serie A giants AC Milan will face French Ligue 1 side Rennes in one of the 2023 Europa League playoff round matches, in February 2024.

Milan dropped out of the Champions League at the group stage, after finding the going tough in a group that consisted of Germany's Borussia Dortmund, French giants PSG, and England's Newcastle United, in what was christened the group of 'death.'

According to the draw released on Monday by UEFA in Nyon, Switzerland, last season's runners-up AS Roma will face Dutch side Feyenoord.

Here is the full draw:

• Feyenoord vs Roma
• AC Milan vs Rennes
• Lens vs Freiburg
• Young Boys vs Sporting Lisbon
• Benfica vs Toulouse
• Braga vs Qarabag
• Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague
• Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille

The knockout round playoff ties will be played in the home and away format.

All the first-leg games with be played on February 15, 2024, before the return ties are played a week later, on February 22.

Eight teams will progress into the last 16, while eight others bid the competition bye.

In the last 16, they will be paired against the likes of Liverpool, UEFA Conference champions West Ham United, and Brighton all from England.

Others include Scottish side Rangers and German Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.