The Europa League kicks into a higher gear this afternoon as the last-16 ties are confirmed and Manchester United and Tottenham will learn their opponents along with a possible route to the final. The Premier League pair may be struggling domestically, but remain the two clear favourites to lift the trophy at the end of the season.
United and Spurs already know they will be facing either Real Sociedad or AZ Alkmaar, with one getting the Spanish side and the other getting the Dutch outfit. Spurs have already face AZ during the League Phase, running out narrow 1-0 winners in north London. Sociedad are among the biggest threats to the English pair’s silverware hopes.
Rangers are also in the mix after finishing eighth in the League Phase, and wil be drawn against either Bodo/Glimt or Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce. Like the Champions League, the Europa League have also seen big names fall before the knockout stage proper with Galatasaray and Porto the biggest absentees from the last-16 draw.
Spurs and United, who cannot meet until the final, will also be keeping an eye on where Athletic Bilbao and Lazio are placed in the draw, given the quality they both possess. You can follow the draw below with our decided Standard Sport live blog!
Europa League last-16 draw
Who can Man Utd face?
10:16 , Alex Young
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 were Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar, Real Sociedad or Midtjylland.
With the second legs being played on Thursday, February 20, United’s potential opponents were whittled down to two.
Those two are AZ Alkmaar and Real Sociedad, after the pair eased to routine wins in the play-off round.
Who has qualified?
10:12 , Alex Young
Just 16 remain as the Europa League knockout stage begins.
AZ Alkmaar
Ajax
Athletic Club
Bodo/Glimt
FCSB
Fenerbahce
Frankfurt
Lazio
Lyon
Manchester United
Olympiacos
Rangers
Real Sociedad
Roma
Tottenham
Viktoria Plzen
How to watch Europa League last-16 draw
10:05 , Alex Young
TV channel and live stream: The draw will be streamed live and for free on the official UEFA website and YouTube channel, with television coverage available from 12pm on TNT Sports 1.
TNT Sports subscribers can also watch it live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Welcome
10:00 , Alex Young
Good morning and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Europa League last-16 draw.
All three British sides are seeded for the draw, having finished in the top eight of the League Phase, and were able to watch on as 24 teams were reduced to 16 last night.
Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers know they will face one of two teams. The action in Nyon kicks off from midday UK time.
Stick with us.
