by Aleks V | @aleksvee

The 2014-15 UEFA Europa League knockout round begins on Thursday, February 19th, and so far, it looks like it'll be a thriller. Most of the teams in the first leg of the Round of 32 will be meeting their opponents for the first time. Belgian Pro League champions RSC Anderlecht will host the group stage stars FC Dynamo Moscow at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. Kick-off is at 21:05 CT (3:05pm EST).

Anderlecht

The Belgian club comes out of an unlucky Champions League group, where they faced the likes of Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and Galatasaray. With that in mind, they still managed to draw in one leg against each opponent. Anderlecht have been shaky at home in European competition, losing six games in a row before their 2-0 win against Galatasaray. Their domestic record tells a different story. They recently made the final of the Belgian Cup and are set to face Brugge in March. Their last Cup win was in the 2007-08 season.

Key Players

Mitrovic, Vanden Borre, and Mmemba, who all scored two goals in the UCL group stage, will be instrumental in the attack. Steven Defour will bring his experience in UEFA competition, and will likely make his 50th appearance in a UEFA club competition.

Record vs Clubs From Opponent's Country

Anderlecht last faced a Russian club in Europe in 2012, when they beat Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 in the 2nd leg of the Champions League group stage. They are 5-1-6 in Europe against Russian sides with 21 goals for and against, so a game against Dynamo can either make or break their hopes for the next round.

Dynamo Moscow

Dynamo are unbeaten in their last 15 games in all competitions, and recently took home The Atlantic Cup, ending a trophy drought of nearly 20 years. The blue-and-whites are also unbeaten in this season's Europa League from the third qualifying round onward.

Key Players

Mathieu Valbuena never ceases to amaze; he's a universal player who can be instrumental anywhere on the pitch. Be on the lookout for his set piece deliveries. Alex Buttner has stepped up his game, contributing both in the defense and attack. William Vainqueur played alongside Anderlecht's Defour and Cyriac while at R. Standard de Liege.

Record vs Clubs From Opponent's Country

Dynamo haven't played a Belgian club in an official match since 1997, when they won 3-2 against KRC Genk in the group stage of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. They've lost three of their seven games in Europe against Belgian sides, with a goal difference of 8-10.

The Managers

Neither Besnik Hasi or Stanislav Cherchesov have won a European cup as a player or manager.

In his first ever season as head coach, Hasi won the Belgian Pro League and Super Cup while leading Anderlecht to their first UEFA knockout stage in 3 seasons.

Cherchesov led Dynamo to the UEL group stage and knockout round for the first time in the club's history. In the Russian Premier League, he established Dynamo as a top 4 contender.

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

Although the Round of 32 in this season's UEFA Europa League will feature mostly new match-ups, three of the 16 games that will be played on Thursday, February 19 will be a blast from the recent - and distant - past.

All games below kick off at 21:05 CET (3:05pm ET).

Villarreal - Red Bull Salzburg

Salzburg's Andreas Ulmer in 2009. Photo: weltfussball.at

The only sides in the Round of 32 to have previously met in the tournament, Villarreal and Salzburg last clashed in the group stage of the 2009-10 Europa League. Salzburg won 3-0 on aggregate, but both teams went on to the Round of 32. One Villarreal and three Salzburg players remain from the sides that played the 2nd leg that year. Villarreal midfielder Bruno Soriano has an unspecified injury. Salzburg defenders Christian Schwegler and Andreas Ulmer are fit, while Christoph Leitgeb is doubtful due to a knee injury.

Liverpool - Besiktas 
Liverpool last met Besiktas in the 2007-08 Champions League group stage, winning 9-2 on aggregate. After losing the first leg 2-1, the Reds, under then-coach Rafael Benitez, pummeled Besiktas 8-0 at Anfield. The loss remains not only Besiktas' biggest European defeat, but the biggest loss in any stage of the Champions League. Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is the only returning player from that historic match.

Liverpool went on to the semi-finals of the 2007-08 UCL, losing 4-3 to Chelsea in extra time.



Celtic - Inter
Perhaps one of the biggest match-ups in the Round of 32, Celtic and Inter have waited over four decades to face each other in European competition. They'll play the first leg at Celtic Park, which hosted the semi-final of the 1971-72 European Cup (Champions League), a showdown that ended in a victory for Inter after a penalty shootout. The Italians went on to lose 2-0 to Ajax in the final. Celtic beat Inter at the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon to win the final of the 1966-67 European Cup, becoming the first British club to win the tournament.

by Aleks V | @aleksvee

Photo: desporto.sapo.pt

It's all come down to a classic clash between the favorites and the underdog. In their first ever meeting, Dynamo Moscow and Orebro SK will play for the 2015 Atlantic Cup on Saturday at 17.30 MSK (9:30am EST). Many are quick to look over a friendly tournament, even one with a trophy. For Dynamo and Orebro, however, it's an opportunity to make history. Dynamo last won a trophy in 1995, taking home the Russian Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout against FC Rotor. The blue-and-whites have also won a friendly tournament, taking home the Ciutat de Barcelona trophy in 1976. Orebro, a club that was founded in 1908, have yet to win a Cup tournament. The closest they came was the 1987-88 Svenska Cupen (Swedish Cup), in which they were runners-up to IFK Norrkoping. Unlike Dynamo, who are newcomers to the tournament, Orebro are in the running for a second year in a row. Last year's Atlantic Cup was bittersweet for the Swedes, who finished second to FC Copenhagen on goal difference. Orebro's Alexander Axen will try leading the team to a different result this time around, all the while looking for his first silverware as head coach. It won't be an easy task, however. Dynamo have a 13-game unbeaten streak in all competitions stemming from last November. Axen won't be alone in his quest - Dynamo's Stanislav Cherchesov has yet to win a trophy in his managerial career. Tomorrow's game will see one manager lifting their club's trophy drought while adding a prestigious award to his resume. The Estadio Algarve awaits.

Road to the Final

Dynamo Moscow - Wins over Copenhagen (2:1) and Goteborg (2:0).


Orebro SK - Defeated Midtjylland in penalties. Won 2:1 against Brondby IF.


Record vs Clubs From Opponent's Country
Dynamo Moscow vs Swedish clubs: +8=2-1 | GD: 36-11
Orebro SK vs Russian clubs: -2 | GD: 1-6