ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC will be returning to Old Trafford as Manchester United take on AC Milan in the Europa League last 16.
And it will be a second trip to Olympiacos in the space of a fortnight for Arsenal as they take on the Greek side whose stadium they used in yesterday’s win over Benfica.
- Ajax vs Young Boys
- Dynamo Kiev vs Villarreal
- Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- Olympiacos vs Arsenal
- Dinamo Zagreb vs Tottenham
- Man Utd vs AC Milan
- Slavia Prague vs Rangers
- Granada vs Molde
- Matches will take place on Thursday, March 11 and Thursday, March 18.
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NO CHOICE BUT TO MAN UP!
Manchester United’s tough fortunes in draws this season has provoked mock and awe on social media…
ZLAT’S CRAZY
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on course to return to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Europa League.
The Red Devils host his AC Milan side on March 11 before the return leg at the San Siro seven days later.
It will be just the third time he has gone up against the English giants and the first since he left the club in March 2018 for a spell at LA Galaxy before rejoining the Rossoneri.
In those previous two matches, in the Champions League last 16 with Inter in 2009, he failed to score as the two legs ended 0-0 and 2-0 to United.
Ibrahimovic made 53 appearances for the Red Devils between 2016 and 2018, scoring 29 goals – although the vast majority came in his first season before his knee injury in April 2017.
He only featured seven times in 2017-18, with his final game coming on Boxing Day with a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley.
Here’s how United looked that match.
WORK OF ART
Mikel Arteta is hoping Arsenal’s win against Benfica in the Europa League will help bring the belief back to his squad.
He said: “Hopefully for us and the players it will generate belief.
“We know that in this competition we’re going to go through difficult patches, be it a moment in a game, a whole game or something unpredictable that happens.
“You have to be able to react to it. All the winners in European competition have to have a magic moment, a moment of luck, have to be able to overcome difficult situations.
“We did it last night and in a convincing way as well because I could see the players were ready to fight and they never looked disappointed, even after the way we conceded the second goal.
“That gives me hope. It’s a good experience to have together. Hopefully we can use it for the future in the next games.”
ZLAT’S TOUGH
Man Utd have been handed a tough Europa League round of 16 assignment in the shape of AC Milan.
While Spurs take on Dinamo Zagreb and Arsenal face Olympiacos, the Red Devils will go head to head with the seven-time champions of Europe.
While Milan may not be quite as good as the vintages of the likes of Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello or Carlo Ancelotti, they still represent a dangerous opponent for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.
Currently second in Serie A, Stefano Pioli’s side possess a number of excellent players capable of hurting their Premier League counterparts.
SunSport takes a look at five in particular that fans will have to keep their eyes peeled for.
Click HERE for the full story.
NO WAY, JOSE
Jose Mourinho insists Tottenham are not frightened of facing rivals Arsenal or Man Utd after drawing Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.
Asked if was pleased to have avoided their two fellow Premier League rivals, Mourinho said: “When you are in this competition and you get to this stage you don’t get easy clubs.
“If you want to win it, sooner or later you have to play against the best clubs or the ones who go through the different stages.
“So the objective now is to win against Dinamo and then if later Arsenal and Manchester United are in the competition we have always to face them.
“I think, yeah it happened in the Champions League final, two English clubs, happened in the Europa League with Arsenal and Chelsea too.
“It’s something that can happen and if it does, wonderful for us if we are one of the two teams and wonderful for English football to have two teams in the final.
“But in this moment 16 teams, everybody wants the same so it’s very premature to think about it.”
EURO GLORY
Manchester United are the 7/2 favourites for the Europa League despite drawing AC Milan in the round of 16.
United overcame Real Sociedad in the round of 32 and have been paired with European giants Milan in a mouth-watering tie for the next round.
Tottenham and Arsenal are second and third favourites at 9/2 and 6/1, while Steven Gerrard’s Rangers are 19/1.
Europa League winner odds – Betfair
- Manchester United 7/2
- Tottenham 9/2
- Arsenal 6/1
- Ajax 9/1
- Villarreal 10/1
- Roma 13/1
- AC Milan 14/1
- Rangers 19/1
- Shakhtar Donetsk 22/1
- Granada 28/1
- Dynamo Kiev 35/1
- Olympiacos 41/1
- Slavia Prague 43/1
- Dinamo Zagreb 60/1
- Young Boys 60/1
- Molde 130/1
JOSE’S THOUGHTS
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho gave his thoughts on today’s Europa League draw which confirmed that Dinamo Zagreb will be their opponents in the Round of 16.
MOLDE MARCHING ON
Erling Haaland congratulated Molde on their impressive win against German outfit Hoffenheim!
Haaland played for Molde between 2017-19, before moving to Austria to play for RB Salzburg.
Molde will face Granada in the Europa League Round of 16.
SUPER SOUCEK
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek joined in on Slavia Prague’s celebrations on FaceTime last night!
Will it be a repeat of the same when Slavia take on Rangers?
CAPTAIN AUBA
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had this to say after netting a last gasp winner to send Arsenal through to the Europa League Round of 16.
LATE STAGES
Slavia Prague will have to beat Rangers to reach the Quarter-Finals of the Europa League!
GREEK MYTH
Arsenal fans took to Twitter to complain about the Europa League tie which will see them face former defender Sokratis.
One wrote: “F*** OFF MAN OLYMPIACOS, NOT THESE LOT AGAIN……”
Another said: “Olympiacos. Again. Don’t you dare, @Arsenal.”
A third user added: “Arsenal draw Olympiacos as is customary in every competition.”
Others, though, see it as the perfect chance for Aubameyang and Co to get revenge for a year ago.
Read More
DRAW REMINDER
If you’re just joining us now, here’s a reminder of all the draws for the Europa League Round of 16:
- AFC AJAX VS BSC YOUNG BOYS
- DYNAMO KYIV VS VILLARREAL
- AS ROMA VS SHAKHTAR DONETSK
- OLYMPIACOS VS ARSENAL
- DINAMO ZAGREB VS TOTTENHAM
- MAN UTD VS AC MILAN
- SLAVIA PRAGUE VS RANGERS
- GRANADA VS MOLDE
THROWBACK
Spurs are looking forward to facing Dinamo Zagreb, the team they bought Luka Modric from!
GUNNING FOR GLORY
Arsenal will face Olympiacos in the Europa League Round of 16!
And on paper, Arsenal will be favourites heading into the game, but the record between the two sides makes it 50-50.
The Gunners have met Olympiacos on ten previous occasions, with both sides winning five.
Olympiacos were knocked out by Wolves in last season’s competition.
HEROES RETURN
Man Utd fans are looking forward to Zlatan Ibrahimovic return to Old Trafford!
Unfortunately, fans will not be in attendance to see.
TIE REVERSED
Tottenham’s Europa League tie has been reversed as they cannot play at home on the same day as Arsenal, according to Dale Johnson.
DREAM BECOMES REALITY
Slavia Prague boss Trpisovsky wanted to bring Slavia back to Britain for the Europa League Round of 16, and he got his wish!
Before the draw, he said: “I would like to take Slavia to the British Isles again.
“To play against Rangers would be fantastic, not only because I have never been there.”
IT WAS MEANT TO BE
Funnily enough, Man Utd posted a video of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s strike against Southampton in the Carabao Cup fine, declaring it goal of the day.
And just hours later, United draw AC Milan in the Europa League!
GIANTS COLLIDE
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man Utd have been drawn against European giants AC Milan in the Europa League Round of 16!
It means that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to Old Trafford, where he played for United between 2016-18.
The rest of the teams will be rather happy with the draw, one of the big boys will crash out before the Quarter-Finals!
CONFIRMED DRAW
- AFC AJAX VS BSC YOUNG BOYS
- DYNAMO KYIV VS VILLARREAL
- AS ROMA VS SHAKHTAR DONETSK
- OLYMPIACOS VS ARSENAL
- DINAMO ZAGREB VS TOTTENHAM
- MAN UTD VS AC MILAN
- SLAVIA PRAGUE VS RANGERS
- GRANADA VS MOLDE
GRANADA VS MOLDE
Two newcomers face each other!
SLAVIA PRAGUE VS RANGERS
Interesting! Slavia draw Rangers! Looking forward to that one that’s for sure!
MAN UTD VS AC MILAN
WOOOOOOW! Man Utd will welcome AC Milan to Old Trafford!
Ibrahimovic returns!
DINAMO ZAGREB VS TOTTENHAM
Tottenham will face Zagreb in the Round of 16!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
