Barcelona and Manchester United headlined the Europa League knockout round play-off draw on Monday.
The two giants of European football will go head to head in the New Year at the Camp Nou
and Old Trafford over two legs for the right to join the likes of Arsenal in the last-16 of the continent’s secondary club competition.
Barcelona dropped into the Europa League for the second successive season in dismal
fashion after finishing third behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in a tough Champions League Group D.
Meanwhile, United failed to seal a bye through to the round of 16 despite winning their final group game against Real Sociedad,
finishing behind the Spaniards as runners-up in Group E courtesy of an inferior goal difference.
French side Nantes have the unenviable task of trying to topple Juventus, who finished behind both surprise winners Benfica and fellow giants Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League group.
United boss Erik ten Hag could also have faced a swift reunion with former club Ajax in the knockouts, but instead the Dutch champions will face Bundesliga surprise package Union Berlin.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma, the holders of the Europa Conference League title, are up against Champions League dropouts Red Bull Salzburg,
with Europa League specialists Sevilla battling PSV Eindhoven in an enticing tie.
Read Also: Champions League Last-16 Draw: Liverpool To Face Real Radrid
Europa League knockout round play-off draw in full
- Barcelona vs Manchester United
- Juventus vs Nantes
- Sporting CP vs FC Midtjylland
- Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes
- Ajax vs Union Berlin
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Monaco
- Sevilla vs PSV Eindhoven
- Roma vs RB Salzburg
When Are The Europa League Play-offs?
The next “Thursday nights are Europa nights” February 16 for the first leg of the play-offs, with the second leg on February 23.
The draw for the last 16 will be a day after that on February 24.
Then, the last 16 itself will take place on March 9 and March 16, where Arsenal and the other group winners will face those that come through the play-offs.
DO AWAY GOALS COUNT?
Away goals will not be used to determine the winners of the ties.
If the teams cannot be separated after 180 minutes, then the ties will go to extra-time and penalties.
WHEN IS THE EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL?
The 2023 Europa League final will take place on May 31 2023 at Budapest’s Puskas Arena..
