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United To Face Ajax In Europa League

Manchester United have been paired with Dutch giants Ajax in the Round of 32 of the Europa League with the winners of the tie going onto face Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao in the last 16 of the competition.

The first leg between the sides will take place at the Amsterdam Arena on Thursday 16th February kicking off at 7pm with the second leg commencing at Old Trafford a week later kicking off at 8.05pm.

Ajax dropped down into the Europa League from the Champions League after finishing third in their group behind Real Madrid and Lyon who controversially overcame a 7-goal deficit on the final match day to go through ahead of Frank De Boer’s side.

Despite the proud European traditions of both clubs, United have only ever played Ajax twice in competitive matches with the side’s only meeting coming in the first round of the 1976 UEFA Cup when Tommy Docherty’s United were able to overturn a 1-0 loss in Amsterdam in the first leg with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford thanks to goals from Lou Macari and Sammy McIllroy.

United have competed in the Dutch side’s traditional pre-season Amsterdam Tournament on four occasions, winning it in 2006 when Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes were memorably sent-off against FC Porto, with both players receiving 3-match ban’s which disrupted the club’s line-up at the start of the 2006/07 season.

The other two English sides in the Europa League draw got two attractive ties as well with Manchester City drawing FC Porto and Stoke City being paired with Spanish giants Valencia.

By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87

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