MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham’s Europa League fate has been determined.
United won away at FCSB while Spurs beat Swedish side IF Elfsborg at home to bypass the playoff round and proceed straight for March’s last-16.
And, as they finished next to each other in the final league stage table in 3rd and 4th, the underperforming Prem pair have the SAME four potential opponents.
Those are the four teams who 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th – Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, FC Midtjylland or AZ Alkmaar – who will face off with each other in the February’s play-off round double-header.
Ironically, if United and Spurs had NOT won their final league games – each would have faced potentially easier opponents.
That is because, despite their league positions, Real Sociedad and Galatasaray remain two of the toughest sides in the competition.
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The draw takes place on Friday to determine the play-off fixtures – where each of Spurs and United’s potential opponents will be narrowed down to two.
United saw off their Romanian rivals 2-0 thanks to goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo.
While injury-ravaged Spurs ran riot in the last 20 minutes with academy kids Dane Scarlett, Oyindamola Ajayi and Mikey Moore getting on the score sheet.
Rangers also took an automatic top eight qualification spot after beating Belgium’s Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1.
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The Scottish side could now play either Anderlecht, Bodo/Glimt, Twente or Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
Spurs’ win ensured they missed a potentially awkward reunion with old boss Mourinho – for now at least.
Nice, Braga, Hoffenheim, Besiktas and Dynamo Kyiv are some of the big names dumped out of Europe.
Elfsborg, Maccabi TA, Slavia, Malmo, RFS, Ludogorets and Qarabag make up the full 12.
Now 16 clubs battle it out for the eight remaining spots in the knockout stages.
Ajax, Porto, Roma, FCSB, Plzen, Ferencvaros and PAOK are also in the play-offs.
Lazio topped the table and could now draw arch rivals Roma – as well as either Porto, Plzen or Ferencvaros.
Who faces who in the Europa League?
Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…
Teams who finished from ninth to 24th in the Europa league phase will play off to decide who reaches the last-16.
PLAYOFF ROUND
Bodo/Glimt vs Twente or Fenerbahce
Anderlecht vs Twente or Fenerbahce
FCSB vs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK
Ajax vs Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK
Real Sociedad vs AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland
Galatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland
Roma vs Ferencvaros or Porto
Plzen vs Ferencvaros or Porto
Winners of playoff ties will then face the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase in the last-16…
LAST 16
Lazio vs Roma or Plzen or Ferencvaros or Porto
Athletic Bilbao vs Roma or Plzen or Ferencvaros or Porto
Man Utd vs Real Sociedad or Galatasaray or FC Midtjylland or AZ Alkmaar
Tottenham vs Real Sociedad or Galatasaray or FC Midtjylland or AZ Alkmaar
Frankfurt vs FCSB or Ajax or Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK
Lyon vs FCSB or Ajax or Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK
Olympiakos vs Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht or Twente or Fenerbahce
Rangers vs Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht or Twente or Fenerbahce
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
