Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
With home struggles casting a shadow over their Premier League marketing campaign, Manchester United’s hopes of returning to the UEFA Champions League now relaxation firmly on their UEFA Europa League journey. On Friday, the knockout stage attract Switzerland unveiled their path to the ultimate, which features a difficult check in opposition to a well-known Spanish opponent.
So, who stands of their manner, and what does the highway to glory appear to be? Let’s break down the important thing fixtures and potential clashes that await.
Ruben Amorim’s gamers will face Actual Sociedad within the Europa League Spherical of 16, a matchup that would show to be one of many hardest of this stage. Sociedad secured their place by defeating Midtjylland 7-3 on combination within the play-offs.
Regardless of struggling in La Liga—dropping 5 of their final six matches—the Basque aspect has excelled in cup competitions, profitable their final 4 knockout ties. The primary leg will happen on March 6 in San Sebastian, whereas United will profit from dwelling benefit for the second leg at Previous Trafford on March 13.
Including an additional layer of intrigue, the ultimate will probably be held only a brief drive from San Sebastian, at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao—providing Sociedad extra motivation to remove their English opponents.
United’s path to last: Potential quarter-final and semi-final opponents
If Manchester United can overcome Actual Sociedad, their quarter-final opponents will probably be both FCSB (Steaua Bucuresti) or Lyon—a comparatively favorable draw in comparison with a few of the different heavyweight clashes.
Nonetheless, the semi-final might current a far higher problem. The Purple Devils would face certainly one of 4 groups: Fenerbahce, Rangers, Roma, or Athletic Bilbao. Every state of affairs comes with its personal storyline:
Fenerbahce
A reunion with former United gamers Sofyan Amrabat and Fred, in addition to a return to Previous Trafford for supervisor Jose Mourinho.
Rangers
A basic British showdown with the Scottish giants.
Roma
A rematch with the crew that famously shocked United within the 2020-21 Europa League semi-finals.
Athletic Bilbao
A conflict within the coronary heart of the Basque area, simply down the highway from the place United will face Sociedad.
Attainable last opponents: Tottenham, Ajax, Lazio, or Eintracht Frankfurt
On the alternative aspect of the bracket, Tottenham, Ajax, Lazio, and Eintracht Frankfurt are among the many favorites to achieve the ultimate. Notably, Manchester United can’t face Tottenham till the ultimate, probably organising an all-English showdown for the trophy.
With United’s hopes of ending within the Premier League’s prime 4 all however gone, profitable the Europa League represents their finest likelihood of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League. The competitors additionally presents certainly one of their final alternatives for silverware this season, alongside the FA Cup.
