Between them, these two clubs have been crowned champions of Europe on five occasions, with Ajax winning three in a row in the early-70s, before triumphing again in 1996, while Aston Villa famously did so in 1982.

Now, only one will be able to continue this campaign’s continental escapade into the quarter-finals.

Ajax have already played ten European matches this season, making it this far despite only winning two of the last nine.

John van ‘t Schip’s side, somehow, ousted Bodø/Glimt in the first knockout round, scoring twice in stoppage time to salvage a draw in the first leg in Amsterdam.

Then, in the Arctic Circle a fortnight ago, Kenneth Taylor’s stunning extra time strike saw his team sneak through 4-3 on aggregate, with both teams ending the night down to ten-men.

Domestically, it’s been a nightmare season for Ajax, currently fifth in the Eredivisie, thereby on course for their lowest finish since 2000, so will really need to raise their game to get through this tie.

Aston Villa meanwhile return to UEFA competition for the first time since December, having topped their group with 13 points, winning four on the spin prior to a dead-rubber 1-1 draw with HŠK Zrinjski Mostar.

When it comes to winning Europa-based competition, Unai Emery is your man, given that he’s won the Europa League four times as a head coach, reaching five finals in the last decade.

The Claret and Blue Army are currently fourth in the Premier League, therefore are in a position to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1982/83, getting in as holders back then.

However, Villa supporters do not want them to bin off this competition, as they dream of lifting major silverware for the first time since the League Cup in 1996.

Of course, this is a glamour tie, but Villa will be confident of leaving Johan Cruijff Arena with a lead.

Aston Villa to win

1st selection

4/6

Both teams to score

2nd selection

8/15

Ollie Watkins to score anytime

3rd selection

11/10

At 10/3, a £10 bet would return £43.33

Ajax vs Aston Villa

10/3

Maccabi Haifa vs Fiorentina betting tips

Fiorentina reached last season’s Europa Conference League Final, beaten 2-1 by West Ham in Prague, but are hoping to go one step further this time round.

Vincenzo Italiano’s team topped their group unbeaten in the autumn, above Ferencváros, Genk and Čukarički, meaning they’ve lost only five of 25 Europa Conference League fixtures since the start of last season.

In Serie A, I Viola have found consistency hard to come by, so are languishing outside the European places.

However, Fiorentina are still involved in both this tournament and the Coppa Italia and, having been runners-up in both a year ago, are desperate to end up with silverware in their hands come May.

I Viola certainly come into this tie as favourites, but Maccabi Haifa have already upset the odds in the knockout phase, so believe they can do so again.

Last month, Messay Dego’s side dumped out Gent 2-1 on aggregate, with Frantzdy Pierrot’s deflected shot at Ghelamco Arena a fortnight ago enough to see them advance.

The Greens have already played 14 matches in Europe this season, the first of which, a 4-0 hammering of Ħamrun Spartans, came all the way back on 11 July, nine days before Fiorentina’s first pre-season fixture.

The Israeli champions are further hamstrung by the fact, for obvious reasons, they can’t play matches on home soil right now, with this first leg taking place in Hungary’s capital Budapest.

So, a Fiorentina victory seems likely at Bozsik Aréna.

Sturm Graz vs Lille betting tips

Sturm Graz were uber-impressive in the first knockout round, but the difficulty level will exponentially increase here.

Last month, Christian Ilzer’s team swatted aside ŠK Slovan Bratislava, winning 4-1 at home and then 1-0 at Národný futbalový štadión, with Arsenal loanee Mika Biereth breaking the deadlock in both legs.

Thus, this is the first time die Schwoazn have reached the last 16 of a UEFA competition since 2001, dreaming of a first quarter-final appearance for four decades.

Opponents LOSC Lille meanwhile are unbeaten in this tournament, winning five of eight outings, comfortably topping their group above the aforementioned Slovan Bratislava, Olimpija Ljubljana and Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag.

Paulo Fonseca’s side are also in the hunt for a top four finish in Ligue 1, but les Dogues supporters would also love to see their team reach the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time ever.

With the return leg to come in Northern France, Sturm Graz really need to make home advantage count at Liebenauer Stadium.

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise vs Fenerbahçe betting tips

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise are novices when it comes to European competition, certainly in the context of this tie, but are hoping to, at least, match last season’s adventure.

Last year, Union SG competed in UEFA competition for the first time in 58 years, but managed to get all the way to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, ultimately dumped out by Bayer Leverkusen.

This time round, having dropped into this tournament, les Unionistes sprung a big surprise in the first knockout round, ousting one of the favourites Eintracht Frankfurt.

Alexander Blessin’s side came from 2-0 down to salvage a draw in Brussels, before goals from Cameron Puertas and Dennis Eckert secured a famous 2-1 victory in Germany, silencing a stunned Waldstadion.

Domestically, Union Saint-Gilloise are clear at the top of the Jupiler Pro League, whilst also through to a first Coupe de Belgique Final since 1914, so, to summarise, things couldn’t be going much better.

Thus, a daunting task ahead for Fenerbahçe, as they seek to reach the last eight of a UEFA competition for the fourth time, previously doing so in 1964, 2008 and 2013, getting to the Europa League semis 11 years ago.

Already in this campaign, İsmail Kartal’s team have played 12 matches in this competition but, having won ten of them, managed to top their group, ending up above Ludogorets Razgrad by virtue of goal difference.

The 19-times champions of Türkiye are unbeaten in 12 European home games, winning 11 of them, so will feel confident of progressing, should they leave the Belgian capital with a positive result.

As a result, victory is vitally important for Union SG at Stade Constant Vanden Stock.

Dinamo Zagreb vs PAOK betting tips

This tie is very tough to call, with both believing they can reach a rare European quarter-final.

GNK Dinamo Zagreb have only featured in the last eight of a UEFA competition once since 1970, beating Tottenham at this stage of the Europa League three years ago, before bowing out at the hands of Villarreal.

So far this time round, the Blues have already played 14 European matches, most-recently causing a big upset in the first knockout round, dumping out Real Betis.

Bruno Petković's late penalty proved to be the match-winner in Seville, before Takurō Kaneko’s equaliser back in the Croatian capital was enough to see them advance 2-1 on aggregate.

Domestically, things are not going to plan for Sergej Jakirović's team, currently third in the Prva HNL, despite winning 17 of the last 18 titles, making it all the more important that they go deep into this tournament.

PAOK meantime have only ever reached two European quarter-finals in their entire history, beaten by AC Milan in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1974 and by Olympique Marseille in this competition two seasons ago.

Nevertheless, the White-Blacks have been very impressive in this season’s edition, unbeaten across 12 fixtures, topping their group with 16 points, most-notably beating Frankfurt twice, scoring 29 goals in total.

Răzvan Lucescu’s team are also just one point below Greek Super League-leaders AEK Athens, chasing just a fourth title in their history, meaning there’s plenty of excitement in Thessaloniki right now.

Given that there’s not very much between these two, GNK Dinamo will feel this first leg at Stadion Maksimir is must win.

Olympiacos vs Maccabi Tel Aviv betting tips

Olympiacos come into this tie as favourites to progress, but this’ll only remain the case should they establish a first leg advantage.

In the previous round, José Luis Mendilibar’s team impressively swatted Ferencváros aside, winning both legs 1-0, with Ayoub El Kaabi the only scorer in Piraeus and then Budapest.

The record 49-time champions of Greece are seeking to reach the quarter-finals of a UEFA competition for only the third time, beaten in the last eight by Atlético Madrid in 1993 and Juventus six seasons later.

Thus, despite their ongoing domestic troubles, currently fourth in the league having hired and fired eight managers in two seasons, victory in this tie would be historic for Olympiacos.

Maccabi Tel Aviv meantime have already made history, set to appear in the last 16 of a European tournament for the first time ever.

To get here, the Yellows came through three rounds of qualifying before topping their group with 15 points, finishing two clear of Gent, who they defeated in a top of the table shootout on matchday six.

This is made all the more remarkable by the fact Robbie Keane’s team can’t play home games on Israeli soil right now, for obvious reasons, meaning the second leg will have to be played in Bačka Topola, Serbia.

Roared on by a partisan home crowd, Olympiacos will be confident of victory at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

Molde vs Club Brugge betting tips

Molde’s first knockout round tie was remarkable, so will more excitement be on the cards here?

Last month, they raced into a 3-0 lead against Legia Warsaw, Fredrik Gulbrandsen bagging a brace with Markus André Kaasa also on target inside 24 minutes, only for Legia to score twice, pulling it back to 3-2.

Unperturbed, in the Polish capital a week later, Erling Moe’s men went 3-0 up again, Gulbrandsen score twice once again, only this time holding onto that advantage for a comfortable 6-2 aggregate victory.

This is only the second time ever Molde have reached the round of 16 in any UEFA competition, ousted by Granada at this stage of the Europa League behind-closed-doors three seasons ago.

With their new Eliteserien campaign not commencing until April Fools’ Day, Molde will be raring to go, but will this rustiness count against them?

Opponents Club Brugge were competing in the Champions League last 16 this time last year, but are now aiming to reach only a second quarter-final on the continent since 1995, most-recently doing so nine years ago.

Ronny Deila’s team have been very impressive in this competition, first ousting Osasuna in the play-off round before yielding 16 points from six group games, most-memorably hammering Beşiktaş 5-0 in İstanbul.

With the second leg to come in Belgium, most make Brugge favourites to advance, but only if they manage to leave Røkkeløkka with a positive result.

Servette vs Viktoria Plzen betting tips

Last, but by no means least, what an opportunity it is for both of these clubs to reach a major European quarter-final.

Servette have already had an eventful European adventure, beating Genk on penalties in Champions League qualifying, before a narrow defeat to Rangers, thereby making their group phase debut in the Europa League.

Once there, René Weiler’s side only won once but did finish third, dropping down into this tournament, where they managed to dump out Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 on aggregate.

Timothé Cognat’s sixth minute goal at Huvepharma Arena enough to settle the entire tie.

So now, the Maroons, who sit second in the Swiss Super League, are on the cusp of a third quarter-final appearance in Europe, the previous two both coming in the Cup Winners’ Cup, way back in 1967 and ‘79.

Viktoria Plzeň meanwhile, despite featuring in nine group phases, all since 2011, have never reached the quarter-finals of any UEFA competition, determined to change that fact.

Miroslav Koubek’s team have won each of their last 11 European fixtures, scoring 22 goals, topping their group with maximum points, keeping eight clean sheets during this sequence too.

Based on that, the Czech side are going to take some stopping, so will Servette be able to end Viktoria Plzeň's unbeaten streak at Stade de Genève?