Manchester United Draw Real Sociedad in Europa League Round of 16 as Route to Final is Revealed

The road to Dublin for the UEFA Europa League final is beginning to take shape, as the draw for the round of 16 took place on Friday. With teams now aware of their potential paths to glory, the excitement and anticipation for the knockout phase continue to build.

Manchester United Face Real Sociedad

Manchester United will face Spanish outfit Real Sociedad in the round of 16, setting up an intriguing tie between two teams with European ambitions. United, who secured their place in this stage through their performances in the league phase, will be looking to make a deep run in the competition, which could serve as their best chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League amid their inconsistent Premier League campaign.

Should Erik ten Hag’s men progress past Real Sociedad, they will face either Lyon or FCSB in the quarter-finals. Notably, United have already defeated FCSB 2-0 in the group phase last month, which could give them a psychological advantage if the Romanian side manages to get past Lyon.

Mourinho’s Potential Reunion with Manchester United

Further down the bracket, if both Manchester United and Fenerbahce reach the semi-finals, it would set up a showdown between the Red Devils and their former manager, Jose Mourinho. Fenerbahce, managed by Mourinho, will have to navigate past Rangers in the last-16, followed by a potential quarter-final against either Roma or Athletic Bilbao.

Mourinho, who led United to Europa League glory in 2017, could relish the chance to face his old club in what would undoubtedly be a high-stakes encounter. However, before that can happen, his Fenerbahce side must first overcome the challenge of Scottish giants Rangers.

Tottenham Draw AZ Alkmaar in Bid for European Success

Tottenham Hotspur will take on AZ Alkmaar as they aim to progress past the last-16 stage of a European competition for the first time since their Champions League final appearance in 2019. Ange Postecoglou’s men will look to make a statement in the knockout rounds, with the possibility of facing either Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.

UEFA’s new seeding system, which prevents teams finishing next to one another in the league phase from meeting until the final, has placed United and Spurs on opposite sides of the bracket. This ensures that if both teams continue their strong form, they would not face each other until the final in Dublin.

Other Key Fixtures and Notable Absentees

Elsewhere, Serie A side Lazio will take on Viktoria Plzen, while Athletic Bilbao faces a tough test against Roma. The full list of fixtures is as follows:

• Real Sociedad vs Manchester United

• AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur

• Bodo/Glimt vs Olympiacos

• Fenerbahce vs Rangers

• Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt

• FCSB vs Lyon

• Viktoria Plzen vs Lazio

• Roma vs Athletic Bilbao

Fans will not have to wait long for the action to commence, with the first legs of these ties scheduled for March 6. The return legs will be played just a week later on March 13, before the competition takes a short break ahead of the quarter-finals on April 10.

Two notable absentees from this stage are Porto and Galatasaray. Porto were eliminated after a dramatic 4-3 aggregate loss to Roma, while Galatasaray exited following a heavy 6-3 defeat against AZ Alkmaar over two legs.

Looking Ahead

With the bracket now set, all eyes turn to the fixtures in March as the Europa League heats up. Manchester United, Tottenham, and the other contenders will now prepare for the crucial knockout rounds, knowing that every match brings them one step closer to potential European silverware.

The road to the final in Dublin promises intense matchups, tactical battles, and high drama—everything that makes the Europa League one of the most exciting competitions in European football.

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