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Roberto Cravero glad Lazio avoided both Manchester clubs in Europa League draw
The 47-year-old believes that the two Italian teams remaining in Europe's secondary competition have been handed favourable opponents, and should progress to the last 16
16 Dec 2011 18:05:00
By Enis Koylu
Getty Images
Former Lazio player Roberto Cravero feels that the draw for the last 32 of the Europa League has been kind to both Italian clubs.
Udinese will lock horns with Greek side PAOK, while Lazio will fight it out with Atletico Madrid, and Cravero believes that avoiding Manchester City and Manchester United was key to the Serie A sides' chances of reaching the round of 16.
"Udinese's draw with PAOK is definitely good, while Lazio's match-up with Atletico Madrid is a bit harder, but I don't think Reja's team should fear Atletico for their prestigious past," Cravero told Goal.com Italy.
"Atletico have a great past, but are far from the top in La Liga. I think Lazio have all the means to go through and that they are the favourites in this tie.
"I think the most prestigious ties are between Porto and Manchester City and Ajax and Manchester United. Avoiding both Manchester clubs was very important."
Meanwhile, after seeing his side draw Stoke City, Valencia striker Aritz Aduriz admitted that the Premier League outfit are an unknown adversary.
"I don't know too much about them, but I know they're quite English in their game play," he said to AS. "They're a rival to take full account of and a nice team to start the Europa League with."
Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia says that his team must be motivated against Lokomotiv Moscow in order to face Ajax or Manchester United in the following round.
"The first focus should be on this tie, but perhaps that it is a motivation to know that either of those two teams could be our next opponents," he told AS.
Upon drawing Viktoria Plzen, Schalke captain Benedikt Howedes warned his team-mates that their Czech opponents should not be underestimated.
"Whoever is in the Champions League must have football quality. This is not easy talk, but our goal remains to get as far in the Europa League as possible," Howedes stated according to Kicker.
Following a winter hiatus, the Europa League restarts in February.
Udinese will lock horns with Greek side PAOK, while Lazio will fight it out with Atletico Madrid, and Cravero believes that avoiding Manchester City and Manchester United was key to the Serie A sides' chances of reaching the round of 16.
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"Udinese's draw with PAOK is definitely good, while Lazio's match-up with Atletico Madrid is a bit harder, but I don't think Reja's team should fear Atletico for their prestigious past," Cravero told Goal.com Italy.
"Atletico have a great past, but are far from the top in La Liga. I think Lazio have all the means to go through and that they are the favourites in this tie.
"I think the most prestigious ties are between Porto and Manchester City and Ajax and Manchester United. Avoiding both Manchester clubs was very important."
Meanwhile, after seeing his side draw Stoke City, Valencia striker Aritz Aduriz admitted that the Premier League outfit are an unknown adversary.
"I don't know too much about them, but I know they're quite English in their game play," he said to AS. "They're a rival to take full account of and a nice team to start the Europa League with."
Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia says that his team must be motivated against Lokomotiv Moscow in order to face Ajax or Manchester United in the following round.
"The first focus should be on this tie, but perhaps that it is a motivation to know that either of those two teams could be our next opponents," he told AS.
Upon drawing Viktoria Plzen, Schalke captain Benedikt Howedes warned his team-mates that their Czech opponents should not be underestimated.
"Whoever is in the Champions League must have football quality. This is not easy talk, but our goal remains to get as far in the Europa League as possible," Howedes stated according to Kicker.
Following a winter hiatus, the Europa League restarts in February.
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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