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Europa League draw revealed with Man Utd handed trickier tie than Tottenham but both sides on track to meet in final


MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham could face off in the Europa League final after the draw revealed their fate.

The two English sides finished inside the top eight of the Europa League league phase.

Man Utd have learned they will play Real Sociedad in the Europa LeagueCredit: AFP
Meanwhile, Spurs will face AZ Alkmaar in the last 16Credit: Alamy
The two teams are on course to meet in the final in Spain after being put on opposite sides of the drawCredit: Reuters

That saw them both go straight into the Round of 16 phase, where it’s been revealed that Man Utd will face Real Sociedad while Spurs take on AZ Alkmaar.

Prior to the draw it was known that the two Premier League sides – who finished third and fourth in the league phase – would face one of AZ or Real in the first knockout round.

Man Utd – who have a generally horrible record when playing in Spain – actually have a decent record against Sociedad, having yet to be beaten by the Spanish side away from home in three attempts.

Overall, they have played them six times, winning three, drawing two and losing one.

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Meanwhile, Spurs have played AZ only once, winning that clash 1-0 during this season’s league phase.

Overall, the North London side have not fared well when visiting the Netherlands though, winning just five times out of 11 trips.

Meanwhile, both sides have also learned their road to the final which will be hosted at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain on May 21.

Tottenham’s path would see them take on the winner of Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.

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The semi-finals would then see them play one of Bodo/Glimt, Olympiacos, Viktoria Plzen or Lazio.

On the other side of the bracket, Man Utd’s potential quarter-final opponent would be one of FCSB or Lyon.

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Their semi-final opponents would be one of Fenerbahce, Rangers, Roma or final hosts Athletic Bilbao – potentially setting up either a reunion with ex-boss Jose Mourinho or a blockbuster Battle of Britain.

With both sides way off the pace in the Premier League they know their best chance of playing in Europe next season could be to win the Europa League this term.

However, being on opposing sides of the draw, it could come down to a winner-takes-all final.

Tottenham have beaten United three times out of three in all competitions already this season.

But the Red Devils are remarkably the only team in either the Europa League or Champions League that remains unbeaten this season on the continent.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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