UEFA Europa League returns with last 32 – Live on ITV, Five, ESPN

The UEFA Europa League returns tonight as the last 32 battle it out for a place in the 2012 final in Bucharest, Romania on May 9th.

ITV, Channel 5 & ESPN will broadcast five first-leg matches between them live on TV tonight.

Jim Rosenthal will present Channel 5′s coverage of the last-32 first-leg fixture from the Amsterdam ArenA, as the Red Devils travel to face the reigning Dutch champions. Both teams transferred into this competition after finishing third in their respective UEFA Champions League groups.

The programme begins at 5:15pm with a 6pm kick-off – Commentary by Dave Woods and Graham Taylor, and analysis from Stan Collymore and Pat Nevin.

Adrian Chiles is joined by Peter Reid and Gareth Southgate to present ITV1′s coverage of FC Porto v Manchester City from the Estadio do Dragao, where the Citizens face a potentially difficult encounter against the holders. Both teams were eliminated from the Champions League after finishing third in their groups.

The programme begins at 8pm with a 8:05pm kick-off – Commentary by Peter Drury and Jim Beglin.

ESPN will shown two live matches this evening, the first is Lazio v Atletico Madrid, Kick-off 6.00pm, live from the Stadio Olimpico. The 2010 champions Atletico topped Group ‘I’ after winning four of their six matches, while Lazio finished second in Group D after winning two, drawing three and losing one of their games.

The second of tonight’s ESPN matches comes from the Britannia Stadium, where Tony Pulis’s side will have to be at their best if they are to stand a chance of progressing against the La Liga outfit.

And ITV4 will show Legia Warsaw v Sporting Lisbon, Kick-off 6.00pm. Matt Smith will present the coverage with commentary from Steve Bower and Andy Townsend.

6pm kick-offs

Ajax v Manchester United – Channel 5

Legia Warsaw v Sporting Lisbon – ITV4

Lazio v Atletico Madrid –ESPN – ESPN

8:05pm kick-offs

FC Porto v Manchester City – ITV1

Stoke City v Valencia – ESPN

Second Legs

22 Feb – Manchester City v FC Porto – ESPN – kick-off 5pm

23 Feb -Valencia v Stoke City – ESPN – kick-off 6pm

23 Feb – Manchester United v Ajax – Channel 5 – kick-off 8:05pm