Europa League Draw: Manchester United and Tottenham Set to Face Tough Opposition
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have learned the identity of the teams they will face in the upcoming Europa League campaign. The draw has thrown up some intriguing fixtures, including a reunion between Manchester United and their former manager, Jose Mourinho, who is now in charge of Fenerbahce. Meanwhile, Tottenham will face a tough challenge in the form of Scottish giants, Rangers.
Manchester United, who qualified for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup, will face off against Rangers in the league phase. This will undoubtedly be a highly anticipated match, as it marks a reunion between Manchester United and Mourinho, who left the club in 2018. Additionally, former Manchester United midfielder Fred now plays for Fenerbahce, adding another layer of intrigue to the fixture.
Tottenham, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, securing their spot in the Europa League, will also face Rangers in the group stage. However, their toughest away matches will come against Galatasaray and Hoffenheim. These fixtures will test Tottenham’s mettle as they embark on their first European campaign under new manager Ange Postecoglou.
The Europa League has undergone a format change this season, mirroring the new Champions League structure. All 36 teams will play eight matches in the league phase, with the top eight teams advancing directly to the last-16. The teams ranked ninth to 24th will enter a play-off round, while the bottom eight teams will be eliminated immediately.
The new format aims to ensure that teams face opponents of similar difficulty in the opening phase. Despite there being only eight matches, the European fixtures will be spread over 10 midweek slots. The knockout phase of the tournament will remain unchanged from previous years.
One significant change this season is that no Champions League teams will drop down into the Europa League. Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa have all learned their Champions League fixtures, leaving the Europa League solely for the teams that qualified through their domestic leagues.
Manchester United’s failure to secure European football through their Premier League position last season, finishing eighth, was salvaged by their FA Cup triumph. On the other hand, Tottenham’s fifth-place finish secured their spot in the Europa League, just missing out on the highly coveted Champions League places.
The final of this year’s Europa League will take place in Bilbao on May 21. Both Manchester United and Tottenham will be hoping to go all the way in the competition and lift the trophy, showcasing their strength in European football.