ANKARA (AVRUPA TIMES) Turkey's Fenerbahce are to face Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow in the Europa League during a period of political tension between countries.
The sides are set to meet in Istanbul on Feb. 16, which will be followed by a second leg in Moscow a week later.
There was no immediate comment from either side on whether political considerations would affect the tie. Since Turkey shot down on a Russian warplane on the Syrian border on Nov. 24 for violating Turkish airspace despite repeated warnings, Russia has imposed economic sanctions and warned against Russians visiting Turkey on holiday.
Russian volleyball clubs pulled out of fixtures against Turkish sides at the end of November.
Galatasaray, the other Turkish side in the final 32, having dropped down from the Champions League, are to take on Italian club Lazio in less controversial tie.
The last 32:
Valencia (Spain) vs Rapid Wien (Austria)
Fiorentina (Italy) vs Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) vs Porto (Portugal)
Fenerbahce (Turkey) vs Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)
Anderlecht (Belgium) vs Olympiacos (Greece)
Midtjylland (Denmark) vs Manchester United (England)
Augsburg (Germany) vs Liverpool (England)
Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) vs Krasnodar (Russia)
Galatasaray (Turkey) vs Lazio (Italy)
Sion (Switzerland) vs Braga (Portugal)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) vs Schalke 04 (Germany)
Olympique Marseille (France) vs Athletic Bilbao (Spain)
Sevilla (Spain) vs Molde (Norway)
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) vs Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Villarreal (Spain) vs Napoli (Italy)
Saint-Etienne (France) vs Basel (Switzerland)
First leg matches will be played on Feb. 18 (with the exception of the Fenerbahce game, which is to be played two days earlier to avoid a clash with the Galatasaray fixture). The second leg games will be played on Feb. 25.
The final will be played at St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland, on May 18.