The Europa League last-16 draw at Uefa headquarters in Nyon has determined the fate of both English sides remaining in the competition.
Aston Villa have been paired with French outfit Lille, whilst Nottingham Forest will take on Danish club Midtjylland in the knockout round.
Unai Emery’s Villa side must travel to France for their opening fixture, having secured automatic qualification by finishing runners-up in the league phase behind Lyon.
Forest, meanwhile, will enjoy home advantage at the City Ground for their first encounter against the Danes.
Vitor Pereira’s men reached this stage after overcoming Fenerbahce 4-2 on aggregate in the play-off round.
The Villa-Lille pairing holds historical significance, as the two clubs met in the Conference League quarter-finals during the 2022-23 campaign.
That memorable tie saw goalkeeper Emi Martinez produce heroics in the penalty shootout to send the Midlands club through after the teams could not be separated over two legs.
Emery’s squad enter this encounter in formidable domestic form, currently occupying third position in the Premier League table.
The Europa League last-16 draw at Uefa headquarters in Nyon has determined the fate of both English sides remaining in the competition
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Their European campaign has been equally impressive, with seven victories from eight league phase matches, losing only once throughout the group stage.
Forest’s meeting with Midtjylland represents familiar territory for the East Midlands outfit, who faced the same opponents earlier this season.
That October clash at the City Ground ended in a 3-2 defeat for the hosts during Ange Postecoglou’s short-lived spell in charge.
The Greek-Australian manager has since departed, with Pereira now at the helm following a turbulent campaign that has also seen Sean Dyche take temporary charge of European fixtures.
The full Europa League draw was revealed on Friday
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Despite sitting just two points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, Forest’s continental form has provided a welcome respite.
Their emphatic 3-0 victory in Istanbul against Fenerbahce demonstrated their European pedigree under new management.
Should both English clubs navigate their respective last-16 ties successfully, they would face each other in the semi-finals.
Before any potential all-Premier League clash, however, quarter-final hurdles await.
Aston Villa have been paired with French outfit Lille
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Villa would encounter the winners of the all-Italian contest between Roma and Bologna.
Forest’s path would lead them to face either Stuttgart or Porto.
The opening legs across all last-16 fixtures are set for Thursday, March 12, with return matches taking place the following week on March 19.
Istanbul’s Besiktas Park will stage the final on May 20, offering the ultimate prize for whichever side emerges victorious from the knockout rounds.