The standout tie pits Nottingham Forest against Turkish giants Fenerbahce, after both sides failed to fully hit the front in the league phase.
Fellow British club Celtic were also given a tough draw as they will play German outfit Stuttgart.
Europa League knockout play-off draw (number denotes seeding):
Dinamo Zagreb (23) v Genk (9)
Brann (24) v Bologna (10)
Ludogorets (22) v Ferencvaros (12)
Celtic (21) v Stuttgart (11)
Panathinaikos (20) v Viktoria Plzen (14)
Fenerbahce (19) v Nottingham Forest (13)
PAOK (17) v Celta Vigo (16)
Lille (18) v Red Star Belgrade (15)
When are the knockout play-offs?
The first legs of the knockout play-offs will take place on February 19th, and the second legs will be on February 26th.
The eight winners of the knockout play-offs will progress to the round of 16, where they will be drawn against the sides which finished first to eighth in the league phase. Those sides in order of final rank are:
1. Lyon, 2. Aston Villa, 3. Midtjylland, 4. Betis, 5. Porto, 6. Braga, 7. Freiburg, 8. Roma.
The next draw, which is for the round of the 16, plus the remaining bracket, will take place on Friday, February 27th, after the second legs of the knockout play-offs. The round of 16 will begin on March 12th.