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Who can Tottenham face in Europa League last-16 knockout stage?

The Europa League has been a source of positivity for Tottenham this season. (Getty Images)
The Europa League has been a source of positivity for Tottenham this season. (Getty Images)

Tottenham have confirmed their place in the last 16 of this season's Europa League.

In the new league phase format, the top eight teams progress straight through to the last 16 and avoid two extra games in a knockout round play-off tie.

Spurs did most of the hard work heading into their final league-phase match against Elfsborg and finished the job at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night to guarantee a top-eight finish.

In stark contrast to their Premier League form, the north London outfit are enjoying a rather impressive European campaign to date.

Winning their opening three matches against Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar meant they could afford to take two points from a possible nine against Galatasaray, Roma and Rangers to seal a play-off place, at the minimum, after beating Hoffenheim last week.

Who can Tottenham face in Europa League last 16?

Tottenham's progression straight through to the last 16 means they have avoided two extra games next month. This will be a massive boost for Postecoglou as his depleted squad have struggled with the hectic fixture schedule of late.

The last-16 draw will take place on Friday, February 21. The first leg of those ties will be played on March 6, with the return fixtures a week later.

As a result of finishing fourth in the league phase, Tottenham will either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the 13th and 14th seeds, or the 19th and 20th seeds.

That will be confirmed after the knockout phase play-off draw on Friday (January 31).

Potential opponents:

Real Sociedad

Galatasaray

AZ Alkmaar

Midtjylland