2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase
The 2015–16 UEFA Europa League knockout phase began on 16 February and concluded on 18 May 2016 with the final at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, to decide the champions of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League. A total of 32 teams competed in the knockout phase. Times up to 26 March 2016 (round of 32 and round of 16) were CET (), thereafter (quarter-finals and beyond) times were CEST (). Round and draw dates. All draws were held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Matches may have also been played on Tuesdays or Wednesdays  instead of the regular Thursdays due to scheduling conflicts. Format. The knockout phase involved 32 teams: the 24 teams which qualified as winners and runners-up of each of the twelve groups in the group stage, and the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group stage. Each tie in the knockout phase, apart from the final, was played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The team that scored more goals on aggregate over the two legs advanced to the next round. If the aggregate score was level, the away goals rule would be  applied, i.e. the team that scored more goals away from home over the two legs advanced. If away goals were also equal, then thirty minutes of extra time would be played. The away goals rule would be again applied after extra time, i.e. if there were goals scored during extra time and the aggregate score was still level, the visiting team would advance by virtue of more away goals scored. If no goals were scored during extra time, the tie would be decided by penalty shoot-out. In the final, which was played as a single match, if scores were  level at the end of normal time, extra time would be played, followed by penalty shoot-out if scores remained tied. The mechanism of the draws for each round was as follows: On 17 July 2014, the UEFA emergency panel ruled that Ukrainian and Russian clubs would not be drawn against each other "until further notice" due to the political unrest between the countries. Bracket. Round of 32. The draw was held on 14 December 2015. The first legs were played on 16 and 18 February, and the second legs were played on 24 and 25 February 2016. Summary. Matches . "Valencia won 10–0 on aggregate." "Tottenham Hotspur won 4–1 on aggregate." "Borussia Dortmund won 3–0 on aggregate." "Fenerbahçe won 3–1 on aggregate." "Anderlecht won 3–1 on aggregate." "Manchester United won 6–3 on aggregate." "Liverpool won 1–0 on aggregate." "Sparta Prague won 4–0 on aggregate." "Lazio won 4–2 on aggregate." "Braga won 4–3 on aggregate." "Shakhtar Donetsk won 3–0 on aggregate." "Athletic Bilbao won 2–1 on aggregate." "Sevilla won 3–1 on aggregate." "Bayer Leverkusen won 4–1 on aggregate." "Villarreal won 2–1 on aggregate." "4–4 on aggregate. Basel won on away goals." Round of 16. The draw was held on 26 February  2016. The first legs were played on 10 March, and the second legs were played on 17 March 2016. Summary. Matches. "Shakhtar Donetsk won 4–1 on aggregate." "Sevilla won 3–0 on aggregate." "Villarreal won 2–0 on aggregate." "2–2 on aggregate. Athletic Bilbao won on away goals." "Liverpool won 3–1 on aggregate." "Sparta Prague won 4–1 on aggregate." "Borussia Dortmund won 5–1 on aggregate." "Braga won 4–2 on aggregate." Quarter-finals. The draw was held on 18 March 2016. The first legs were played on 7 April, and the second legs were played on 14 April 2016. Summary. Matches. "Shakhtar Donetsk  won 6–1 on aggregate." "Villarreal won 6–3 on aggregate." "3–3 on aggregate. Sevilla won 5–4 on penalties." "Liverpool won 5–4 on aggregate." Semi-finals. The draw was held on 15 April 2016. The first legs were played on 28 April, and the second legs were played on 5 May 2016. Summary. Matches. "Sevilla won 5–3 on aggregate." "Liverpool won 3–1 on aggregate." Final. The final was played on 18 May 2016 at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland.