Feyenoord meets Ukrainian superpower Shachtar Donetsk in Europa League eighth finals

Feyenoord will meet top Ukrainian club Shachtar Donetsk in the Europa League eighth finals, the draw in Nyon revealed. The Rotterdammers start with an away game on March 9. The return is on March 16.

As group winners, Feyenoord was qualified for the eighth finals. Ajax and PSV were eliminated in the intermediate round on Thursday. Shachtar was too strong for French Rennes in the intermediate round after taking penalties. Because of the war, the Ukrainians play their European home matches in Warsaw, Poland.

In the past transfer period, Shachtar Donetsk lost star player Mychajlo Moedryk to Chelsea. The club donated a good portion of the transfer fee to Ukrainian soldiers and their families. Shachtar has not played in hometown Donetsk for years because of ongoing unrest in the region close to the Russian border.

With former Ajacied Lassina Traoré, Shachtar has a familiar face in the point of attack.

Feyenoord encountered the thirteen-time champion of Ukraine once before in a European context. In the 2017/2018 season, the Ukrainians won 2-1 in Rotterdam and 3-1 in Charkiv in the group stage of the Champions League.

Erik ten Hags Manchester United will take on Spanish side Real Betis in the next round. The only restriction in the draw was that clubs from the same country cannot play against each other. The Europa League final will be played on May 31 in Budapest, Hungary.