Steaua will be fighting against FC Twente Enschede, the team that eliminated FC Vaslui in the preliminaries, according to a draw in Nyon on Friday.
The often-maligned Europa League received a boost Friday when Manchester United and Ajax were paired to face each in the other in the Round of 32. Ajax will host Man United on Feb. 16 in a clash of clubs who have been European champion a combined seven times.
Also, defending champion FC Porto will play Premier League leader Manchester City as the first two matches in the draw featured teams who joined UEFA's second-tier competition after exiting the Champions League.
In other matches, 2010 Europa League champion Atletico Madrid will face Lazio, while Europe's two highest-ranked leagues were brought together in a Stoke-Valencia pairing.
Also, it was: Udinese vs. PAOK Thessaloniki; Locomotiv Moscow vs. Athletic Bilbao; Viktoria Plzen vs. Schalke; Salzburg vs. Metalist Kharkiv; Rubin Kazan vs. Olympiakos; AZ Alkmaar vs. Anderlecht; Steaua Bucharest vs. FC Twente; Wisla Krakow vs. Standard Liege; Braga vs. Besiktas; Trabzonspor vs. PSV Eindhoven; Hannover vs. Club Brugge; and Legia Warsaw vs. Sporting Lisbon.
All but one of the first legs will be played Feb. 16, with the return matches scheduled for Feb. 23 -- with the exception of the Man City-Porto match on Feb. 22.FC Porto vs. Manchester City
Ajax vs. Manchester United
Lokomotiv Moscow vs. Athletic Bilbao
Salzburg vs. Metalist Kharkiv
Stoke City vs. Valencia
Rubin Kazan vs. Olympiacos
AZ Alkmaar vs. Anderlecht
Lazio vs. Atletico Madrid
Steaua Bucharest vs. FC Twente
Victoria Plzen vs. Schalke 04
Wisla Krakow vs. Standard Liege
Braga vs. Besiktas
Udinese vs. PAOK
Trabzonspor vs. PSV
Hannover vs. Club Brugge
Legia Warsaw vs. Sporting Lisbon
Steaua - Twente Enschede în 16-imile de finală ale UEFA Europa League
Steaua va juca în 16-imile de finală ale UEFA Europa League cu FC Twente Enschede, echipa care a elimiat pe FC Vaslui în turul III preliminar al UEFA Cgampions League, conform tragerii la sorți care a avut loc vineri , la Nyon.
Câştigătoarea dublei manşe dintre Steaua şi Twente va juca în optimile de finală cu învingătoarea dintre Viktoria Plzen şi Schalke. Steaua şi Schalke au făcut parte din Grupa J, echipa germană impunându-se cu 2-1 pe teren propriu după 0-0 la Cluj-Napoca.
PROGRAMUL MECIURILOR DIN 16-IMILE DE FINALĂ:
1. FC Porto - Manchester City
2. Ajax Amsterdam - Manchester United
3. Lokomotiv Moscova - Athletic Bilbao
4. FC Salzburg - Metalist Harkov
5. Stoke City - CF Valencia
6. Rubin Kazan - Olympiakos Pireu
7. AZ Alkmaar - Anderlecht Bruxelles
8. Lazio Roma - Atletico Madrid
9. STEAUA BUCUREŞTI - TWENTE ENSCHEDE
10. Viktoria Plzen - Schalke 04
11. Wisla Cracovia - Standard Liege
12. Sporting Braga - Beşiktaş Istanbul
13. Udinese - PAOK Salonic
14. Trabzonspor - PSV Eindhoven
15. Hannover - FC Bruges
16. Legia Varşovia - Sporting Lisabona
Programul meciurilor din optimile de finală
FC Salzburg / Metalist Harkov - Rubin Kazan / Olympiakos Pireu
Legia Varşovia / Sporting Lisabona - FC Porto - Manchester City
STEAUA BUCUREŞTI / TWENTE ENSCHEDE - Viktoria Plzen / Schalke 04
Wisla Cracovia / Standard Liege - Hannover / FC Bruges
Stoke City / CF Valencia - Trabzonspor / PSV Eindhoven
AZ Alkmaar / Anderlecht Bruxelles - Udinese / PAOK Salonic
Lazio Roma / Atletico Madrid - Sporting Braga / Beşiktaş Istanbul
Ajax Amsterdam / Manchester United - Lokomotiv Moscova / Athletic Bilbao
Partidele din 16-imile de finala ale UEFA Europa League sunt programate pe 16 (turul) şi, respectiv, 23 februarie 2012 (returul).
