MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham have found out their Europa League oppnents!
The Red Devils and Spurs have been drawn onto opposite sides of the draw, making an all English final a huge possibility.
United will face Real Sociedad, while Tottenham face AZ Alkmaar – whom they beat 1-0 in the group phase.
The first leg of the round of 16 will take place on March 4/5, and the second leg will take place on March 11/12.
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Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
Tottenham’s route to the final
Spurs are hoping to end a trophy drought that stretches all the way back to 2008.
Here’s the route they will have to take if they’re to win this season’s Europa League:
- Round of 16: AZ Alkmaar
- Quarter-final: Ajax or Frankfurt
- Semi-final: Viktoria Plzen, Lazio, Olympiakos or Bodo/Glimt
- Final: Real Sociedad, Man Utd, FCSB, Lyon, Fenerbahce, Rangers, Roma or Athletic Bilbao
Credit: Reuters Amorim – United have ‘more problems than solutions’
It’s been a tough start to life at Old Trafford for Ruben Amorim.
Spain’s Real Sociedad are up next in the Europa League – and the Portuguese boss admits things have been a struggle since he joined in November.
Amorim told the BBC: “What I feel is that sometimes you don’t feel improvement in the team but some games you think we can play and create situations. That is a good thing.
“In this moment when you watch the games, you see more problems than solutions.
“That is clear. When we play some games, I see things are there and we are capable but we have to be consistent.”
Credit: Alamy Capital gains
Chelsea and Spurs will both be in action at home on March 13 – and Uefa are happy for the games to go ahead.
Uefa rules usually prevent two clubs in the same city, or within a 50km radius, from hosting European matches on the same day.
But according to the Mail, the organisation have relaxed rules ahead of Chelsea and Tottenham now both being in action on March 13.
Tottenham welcome AZ Alkmaar to North London in the Europa League, while Chelsea will face Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League.
Credit: AFP
Europa League draw in full
Should you just be joining us, here’s how the draw played out early in Nyon, Switzerland.
The 16 remaining clubs have been sorted into their respective brackets.
As such, Man Utd, Tottenham and Rangers can start plotting their route to the final in Bilbao.
Here’s the draw for the last 16, along with who each team could face in the quarter-finals:
- Bodo/Glimt or Olympiacos vs Viktoria Plzen or Lazio
- Fenerbahce or Rangers vs Roma or Athletic Bilbao
- AZ Alkmaar or Tottenham vs Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt
- FCSB or Lyon vs Real Sociedad or Man Utd
Credit: AFP Home comforts
Manchester United will face Real Sociedad in the last 16 of the Europa League – and will play the second leg at home.
Often seen as an advantage in tournament football, the draw went in United’s favour for the latter stages.
The Red Devils will also play the second leg at Old Trafford in both the quarter-final and semi-final, should they get that far.
Credit: Alamy Tell me Mour
Rangers face a tough task as they go up against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the last-16.
The Special One loves his European football – he remains the only manager to have won all three current Uefa club competitions.
Fenerbahce are currently second in the Turkish Super Lig, six points behind leaders Galatasaray.
Credit: Reuters Top providers in the Europa League
Going into the round of 16, this is how the assist chart looks:
- Mertens – Galatasaray – 5 assists
- Cherki – Lyon – 4 assists
- Dzeko – Fenerbahce – 3 assists
Top scorers in the Europa League
Going into the round of 16, this is how the Golden Boot race looks:
- El Kaabi – Olympiacos – 7 goals
- Osimhen, Varga, En-Nesyri, Aghehowa – 6 goals
- Hojlund, Akgun – 5 goals
Ange’s second season spectacular
Ange Postecoglou has insisted his sides always wins something in their second season.
The Europa League is the last chance they have, as they are out of the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and out of the Premier League title race.
They will have to beat AZ Alkmaar in the round of 16, and then either Ajax or Frankfurt in the quarter-final, before they could potetnaially meet group stage winners Lazio in the semi-finals.
An all-English final?
There is a chance that Manchester United and Spurs meet in the Europa League final this season!
Spurs narrowly beat Amorim’s side last weekend, will they meet again in the final?
Credit: Mark Pain/Alamy Live News Rangers learn their opponent
Rangers will face the Turkish League’s second placed side Fenerbahce in the round of 16.
The sides last met in 2001, with the first leg ending 0-0, and the second leg ending 2-1.
Credit: getty United’s problem
According to OptaJoe on X, United haven’t won ANY of their three home games in Europa League history against Basque opposition.
They have lost to Real Sociedad in 2022 and Athletic Club in 2012, and drew to Sociedad in 2021.
Credit: Mark Pain/Alamy Live News A rematch
AZ Alkmaar and Tottenham will face off in a rematch of a game they have already played this season.
Tottenham won 1-0, and Richarlison scored the only goal.
Credit: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Manchester United’s fate is decided
United will host Real Sociedad in the round of 16 in the Europa League.
Sociedad have only one win over United, a 1-0 win in 2022.
Of their four meetings in the Europa League, United have won two, lost one and drawn one.
Europa League draw complete
There we have it.
Tottenham will need to see off AZ Alkmaar to set up a clash with Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.
Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd face Real Sociedad and could then take on either FCSB or Lyon in the last-eight.
And Rangers will go up against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, with Roma or Athletic Bilbao the prize in the quarters.
Credit: Reuters
Europa League quarter-final bracket
- Bodo/Glimt or Olympiacos vs Viktoria Plzen or Lazio
- Fenerbahce or Rangers vs Roma or Athletic Bilbao
- AZ Alkmaar or Tottenham vs Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt
- FCSB or Lyon vs Real Sociedad or Man Utd
Europa League last-16 draw in full
- Bodo/Glimt vs Olympiacos
- Fenerbahce vs Rangers
- Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- FCSB vs Lyon
- AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham
- Real Sociedad vs Man Utd
- Viktoria Plzen vs Lazio
- Roma vs Athletic Bilbao
Credit: Reuters Europa League draw – latest
Roma vs Atletic Bilbao
Europa League draw – latest
Viktoria Plzen vs Lazio
Europa League draw – latest
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United
Europa League draw – latest
AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham
Europa League draw – latest
FCSB vs Lyon
Europa League draw – latest
Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Europa League draw – latest
Fenerbahce vs Rangers
Europa League draw – latest
Bodo/Glimt vs Olympiacos
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
