This is the jackpot for Nantes, who will face Juventus, a more affordable draw for Rennes and Monaco

There were the big ones, the very big ones: those we don’t really want to face, because we always hope to go further, and, at the same time, the desire to rub shoulders with the best in Europe. FC Barcelona, ​​Ajax and Juventus Turin were among those, on the occasion of the draw for the Europa League play-offs. If the French clubs avoided the visit of the Camp Nou (which is not the case of Manchester United) and the Johan-Cruiff Arena, they were, however, unable to pass the Italian obstacle.

And it is FC Nantes who will have to wrestle with the Old Lady. After a complicated European campaign, concluded with a qualification in extremis on the last day, Antoine Kombouaré’s men will therefore travel to Turin on February 16, with a return scheduled for a week later at La Beaujoire.

Shakhtar-Rennes in Warsaw

The fate was more lenient for Stade Rennais and AS Monaco, who avoided the big fish, but will still have a lot to do to reach the final phase of the Europa League. The Bretons will be opposed to Shakhtar Donetsk, with a first leg scheduled, normally in Warsaw, because of the war led by Russia in Ukraine.

The Monegasques will face Bayer Leverkusen. The two teams had already crossed paths a few years ago in the Champions League, with in particular a 3-0 defeat for the Red and Whites in Germany. The only survivor of this team, Benoît Badiashile, who had seen his partners sink from the substitutes’ bench. In February, he should be, this time, on the ground.