MANCHESTER UNITED eased past Club Brugge to reach the Europa League Last 16.
After a 1-1 draw in Belgium, the Red Devils stuck five past them at Old Trafford.
Man Utd were drawn against Austrian side LASK in the Europa League Last 16Credit: Reuters
Yet, now Man Utd will face debutants LASK for a chance to progress to the quarter-finals – but who are their next opponents?
Who are LASK?
To give their full name, Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub from Pasching in Austria – playing in the Austrian Bundesliga.
The Black-Whites were originally from Linz and were called LASK Linz until moving a few miles southwest in 2016.
They finished second in the competition last season to qualify for the Champions League qualifiers, but lost to Club Brugge in the play-offs.
That earned them a spot in the Europa League group stages for the first time – and their first foray into Europe since 1999.
LASK have only won the Austrian league on one occasion – in 1965 when they became the first side outside of Vienna to lift the championship.
They normally play in the Waldstadion in Pasching – but due to holding just 7,870, it does not meet the Uefa’s requirements.
The Austrian side instead play their European games at Linzer Stadion in Linz – where it will take Man Utd fans around 17 hours to drive from Old Trafford.
Supporters can also get flights to Linz airport, but these a minimal from Manchester.
What is LASK’s Europa League record?
Despite being the newbies to the competition, LASK have won every single home game in the competition.
In the group stages, they beat Rosenborg, PSV and Sporting Lisbon on home soil, before a 2-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday helped see them through.
Their away form is not terrible either with just one defeat in the competition – coming in Portugual in their second match.
Marko Raguz will be seen as LASK’s danger man after firing them into the Last 16Credit: EPA
Who is their star player?
Marko Raguz will be LASK’s main goal threat against Man Utd after netting five so far in the Europa Legaue – including both in the second leg against AZ.
There will be a Red Devils fan facing the Premier League outfit with Samuel Tetteh – on loan from Red Bull Salzburg – previously stating that it’s his dream to play in England.
Speaking to TV3 in 2016, he said: “I am a Manchester United fan. I don’t really love any team like Manchester United and I will like to play for them.”
Meanwhile, attacker Thomas Goiginger has previously been linked with a move to Southampton, as reported by Daily Mail.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
