The Europa League Draw: Who Could Manchester United Face?

The round of 32 stage of the UEFA Europa League is done and after some highly exciting games, 16 teams progressed and 16 teams have been knocked out. Though it is heartbreaking for teams to crash out of a European competition, they will be able to take pride that they managed to reach the knockout phase at the least.

Manchester United made it to the round of 16 after making easy work of French side St-Etienne. The tie was virtually over in the first leg and United had to merely ensure they didn’t bottle their lead. A Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick in the first leg and a solo Mkhitaryan goal in the second saw Manchester United ease through to the round of 16 of UEFA Europa League.

In the 16 teams that have progressed, there have been some shock entries and exits.

Teams like Tottenham, despite playing their hearts out, crashed out of the tournament and it was indeed a shocking result, considering the way Tottenham have been playing this season. It was expected to be one-way traffic, but unfortunately, the traffic turned out to be from the other side.

Meanwhile, Roma eased their way past Villarreal 4-1 on aggregate and there wasn’t really a fight from the Spanish side.

Here’s the list of teams that have progressed to the round of 16 of UEFA Europa League.

Ajax (NED)
UEFA club ranking: 31
Entry: group stage (after losing in UCL PO)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 24
UCUP/UEL best: winners (1991/92)
Domestic titles: 33
Last season: 2nd in Dutch Eredivisie

APOEL (CYP)
UEFA club ranking: 85
Entry: group stage (after losing in UCL PO)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 16
UCUP/UEL best: round of 16 (2016/17)
Domestic titles: 25
Last season: 1st in Cypriot First Division

Anderlecht (BEL)
UEFA club ranking: 36
Entry: play-offs (after losing in UCL 3QR)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 19
UCUP/UEL best: winners (1983)
Domestic titles: 33
Last season: 2nd in Belgian First League

Beşiktaş (TUR)
UEFA club ranking: 52
Entry: round of 32 (via UCL group stage)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 16
UCUP/UEL best: quarter-finals (2002/03)
Domestic titles: 14
Last season: 1st in Turkish Süper Lig

Celta Vigo (ESP)
UEFA club ranking: 79
Entry: round of 32 (via UCL group stage)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 7
UCUP/UEL best: quarter-finals (1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01)
Domestic titles: 0
Last season: 6th in Spanish Liga

Genk (BEL)
UEFA club ranking: 51
Entry: 2QR
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 6
UCUP/UEL best: round of 16 (2016/17)
Domestic titles: 3
Last season: 4th in Belgian First League

Gent (BEL)
UEFA club ranking: 60
Entry: 3QR
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 9
UCUP/UEL best: quarter-finals (1991/92)
Domestic titles: 1
Last season: 3rd in Belgian First League

København (DEN)*
UEFA club ranking: 57
Entry: round of 32 (via UCL group stage)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 15
UCUP/UEL best: quarter-finals (1991/92)
Domestic titles: 11
Last season: 1st in Danish Superliga

Krasnodar (RUS)
UEFA club ranking: 65
Entry: play-offs (after losing in UCL 3QR)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 2
UCUP/UEL best: round of 16 (2016/17)
Domestic titles: 0
Last season: 4th in Russian Premier League

Lyon (FRA)
UEFA club ranking: 29
Entry: round of 32 (via UCL group stage)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 12
UCUP/UEL best: quarter-finals (1998/99, 2013/14)
Domestic titles: 7
Last season: 2nd in Ligue 1

Manchester United (ENG)*
UEFA club ranking: 19
Entry: group stage
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 8
UCUP/UEL best: quarter-finals (1984/85)
Domestic titles: 20
Last season: 5th in Premier League

Mönchengladbach (GER)
UEFA club ranking: 39
Entry: round of 32 (via UCL group stage)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 10
UCUP/UEL best: winners (1974/75, 1978/79)
Domestic titles: 5
Last season: 4th in Bundesliga

Olympiacos (GRE)
UEFA club ranking: 26
Entry: play-offs (after losing in UCL 3QR)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 20
UCUP/UEL best: last 16 (2011/12, 2004/05, 1989/90)
Domestic titles: 43
Last season: 1st in Greek Super League

Roma (ITA)
UEFA club ranking: 37
Entry: group stage (after losing in UCL PO)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 15
UCUP/UEL best: runners-up (1990/91)
Domestic titles: 3
Last season: 3rd in Serie A

Rostov (RUS)
UEFA club ranking: 93
Entry: round of 32 (via UCL group stage)
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 1
UCUP/UEL best: round of 16 (2016/17)
Domestic titles: 0
Last season: 2nd in Russian Premier League

Schalke (GER)
UEFA club ranking: 14
Entry: group stage
Previous UCUP/UEL campaigns: 13
UCUP/UEL best: winners (1996/97)
Domestic titles: 7
Last season: 5th in Bundesliga

Legend
UCL – UEFA Champions League
UEL – UEFA Europa League
UCUP – UEFA Cup
3QR – third qualifying round
PO – play-off

Source: uefa.com

Check UEFA Club Rankings here

Since there will be no seeding or country protection, all the teams will be placed in the same pot. Any team would be able to draw any other and hence it’ll be interesting to see which teams face-off in the next round. Some high-profile fixtures are a possibility and if big teams draw each other, it will be a round full of mouthwatering clashes.

This means that Manchester United could potentially face any of the remaining 15 teams in the lot, with the team praying lady luck for a comfortable fixture.

FC Schalke, AS Roma, Lyon, Borussia Monchengladbach and Ajax are some of the big teams in the lot that Manchester United might face and it sure is going to be a treat watching these teams play in the round of 16 stage.

Are you excited?