Manchester United’s opponents for the Europa League last-16 stage will be made official on Friday.
Despite their miserable Premier League form, United have enjoyed calmer waters in Europe and finished third in the new league phase.
That saw them progress straight through to the last 16 and avoid two extra games in a knockout round play-off tie.
The teams who finished ninth to 24th were thrown into a play-off stage to confirm the eight unseeded teams in the last-16 stage.
Who will Manchester United face in Europa League last 16?
As a result of finishing third in the league phase, Man United could have faced the winners of the knockout phase play-off ties between the 13th and 14th seeds, or the 19th and 20th seeds. Which are: Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar, Real Sociedad or Midtjylland.
With the second legs being played on Thursday, February 20, United’s potential opponents will be whittled down to two.
Those two are AZ Alkmaar and Real Sociedad, after the pair eased to routine wins in the play-off round.
AZ Alkmaar were at one stage 6-1 up on aggregate on Galatasaray, and cruised through to the last-16 even after the Turkish club pulled two goals back.
It was similarly comfortable for Sociedad, who held a narrow lead after the first leg but thrashed Midtjylland on home soil to win 7-3 on aggregate.
United will see their opponent confirmed during the last-16 draw on Friday, February 21.
The first leg of those ties will be played on either March 6, with the return fixtures a week later.
