Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League Journey
Manchester United is set to face Real Sociedad in the round of 16 of the Europa League, while Tottenham Hotspur will contend with AZ Alkmaar. Meanwhile, Rangers have drawn Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, offering an intriguing clash in the knockout stages.
Tottenham previously secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Alkmaar at home in November, whereas United faced Sociedad in the 2022-23 Europa League group stage, experiencing a defeat at home (1-0) before bouncing back to win 1-0 away. Despite their challenges in the Premier League, both United and Spurs are considered joint-favorites to clinch the Europa League title this season.
United triumphed in this tournament back in 2017 under the management of José Mourinho, but they finished third in the league phase of this year’s competition, trailing behind Lazio and Athletic Bilbao. Spurs, on the other hand, secured the fourth position overall. The Europa League now stands as Ange Postecoglou’s opportunity to secure silverware in his second season, as he confidently stated, “I always win things in my second year,” back in September.
Currently, Manchester United sits at 15th in the Premier League standings, while Tottenham ranks 12th. This European campaign offers both coaches, Ruben Amorim and Postecoglou, a chance to redeem their otherwise forgettable seasons. United also remains in contention for the FA Cup, where they will host Fulham in the fifth round on March 2, while Spurs were eliminated from the FA Cup after a loss to Aston Villa and a defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-finals against Liverpool.
The Europa League road to the final in Bilbao for 2025 is heating up. Notably, if both clubs continue their successful runs, a potential showdown in the final could occur, as they are positioned on opposite sides of the draw.
Potential Matchups Ahead
United could potentially face FCSB or Lyon in the quarter-finals, with a possible reunion with Mourinho on the cards in the semi-finals against Fenerbahce. Reaching the semi-finals won’t be easy, as they may encounter formidable opponents such as Rangers, Roma, or Athletic Bilbao.
For Spurs, a rematch with Ajax, their 2019 Champions League semi-final opponents, could be on the horizon in the quarter-finals. Alternatively, they might face Eintracht Frankfurt. In the semi-finals, they could meet Bodo/Glimt, Olympiacos, Viktoria Plzen, or Lazio, further complicating their quest for glory.
Europa League Last-16 Draw in Full
- Bodo/Glimt vs Olympiacos
- Fenerbahce vs Rangers
- Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- FCSB vs Lyon
- AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham
- Real Sociedad vs Manchester United
- Viktoria Plzen vs Lazio
- Roma vs Athletic Bilbao
Key Dates for the Europa League Knockout Stages
- Last-16: March 6 and March 13
- Quarter-finals: April 10 and April 17
- Semi-finals: May 1 and May 8
When is the Europa League Final?
The highly anticipated Europa League final is scheduled to take place at the Estadio de San Mames in Bilbao on May 21.
