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Manchester United have been handed a blockbuster clash with Barcelona in their Europa League knockout round play-off.
The Red Devils’ second-placed finish in Group E sees them pitted against the Catalan giants, who dropped down to Europe’s secondary competition after slipping to third in their Champions League group for the second season running.
It is the first meeting between the pair, who have been crowned European champions a combined eight times, since Barca’s 4-0 aggregate victory in the 2018-19 Champions League quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Juventus will have to overcome Ligue 1 side Nantes if they to progress to the last 16 after picking up just a single victory in Champions League Group H.
Ajax suffered similar fate in their campaign and have been handed a tricky tie against Union Berlin, who are two points off top spot in the Bundesliga.
The eight victors of the knockout play-offs will earn progression to face the eight Europa League group stage winners in the last 16.
Former European kings face off
With Barcelona vs Manchester United twice a Champions League final in 2008-09 and 2010-11, the pair facing off in a Europa League knockout play-off is perhaps a sign of how far both have fallen.
The pair have regularly competed for the top honours in Europe for much of their existence but have fallen on harder times in recent years.
Though there are signs of improvement under respective bosses Xavi and Erik ten Hag, neither are under any illusions of the big task at hand to lift them to their former glories.
Manchester United’s last major honour was their 2016-17 Europa League triumph and both sides may now see this competition as an ideal chance to win some Europa silverware once again.
Europa Conference League knockout round play-off draw results will be confirmed shortly.
Europa League knockout round draw
Barcelona vs Manchester United
Juventus vs Nantes
Sporting vs Midtjylland
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes
Ajax vs Union Berlin
Bayer Leverkusen vs Monaco
Sevilla vs PSV
FC Salzburg vs Roma
Key dates
Knockout round play-offs: February 16 and 23
Last 16: March 9 and 16
Quarter-finals: April 13 and 20
Semi-finals: May 11 and 18
Final: May 31
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more details become available. Please keep refreshing the page.
