Aston Villa handed Ajax test in Europa Conference League

Aston Villa handed Ajax test in Europa Conference League

Aston Villa have been handed a last-16 encounter with Dutch giants Ajax in the Europa Conference League.

Having won a group that included Legia Warsaw, AZ Alkmaar and Zrinjski Mostar, Villa secured a seeding spot for Friday's draw.

However, the Premier League outfit were handed arguably the toughest tie available to them with Ajax emerging as their opponents for the last 16.

Ajax booked their place in this round courtesy of a dramatic 4-3 aggregate win over Bodo/Glimt in the playoff round on Thursday night, with Kenneth Taylor netting the decisive goal with six minutes remaining of extra time.

Last season's runners-up Fiorentina have been handed a meeting with Maccabi Haifa, while Lille have been paired with Austrian outfit Sturm Graz.

Union SG and Fenerbahce meet in another eye-catching tie, with Olympiacos needing to overcome Maccabi Tel Aviv to reach the quarter-finals.

The first legs will take place on March 7, the reverse fixtures following a week later.

Draw in full:

Servette vs. Viktoria Plzen Ajax vs. Aston Villa Molde vs. Club Brugge Union SG vs. Fenerbahce Dinamo Zagreb vs. PAOK Sturm Graz vs. Lille Maccabi Haifa vs. Fiorentina Olympiacos vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv

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