The matchups for the final 16 of the Europa Conference league were set on Friday, sending Konrad de la Fuente and his Marseille teammates to neighboring Switzerland to face Basel.
The American was the only participant in the recently completed Knockout round play-off, where he scored Marseille’s final goal from the bench in their straightforward 6-1 aggregate victory over Qarabag.
The team’s reward is a pair of games against a considerably tougher, albeit manageable opponent, Swiss team FC Basel. Coincidentally, Basel finished first in Group H ahead of Marseille’s previous victims Qarabag.
Dutch team Feyenoord Rotterdam enter this round after their bye through the play-off, as they won Group E, and will face Serbians Partizan Belgrade. However, their recently-acquired American forward Cole Bassett will not be involved as the team did not add him to their list of players available for the knockout round.
Finally, PSV Eindhoven drew Danish team FC Copenhagen, however it is unlikely that American youngster Richard Ledezma will play due to the slow schedule of his recent return from a major knee injury.
The games will occur on March 10 and 17, as the teams attempt to reach the first ever Europa Conference League title in Tirana, Albania on May 25.
Europa Conference League Round of 16 Draw
Marseille (Konrad de la Fuente) – Basel
PSV Eindhoven (Richard Ledezma) – CopenhagenPartizan Belgrade – Feyenoord Rotterdam (Cole Bassett)