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Europa League draw in full as Man Utd face Mourinho

Europa League draw in full as Man Utd face Mourinho
Published 2 months ago on Aug 30, 2024

Manchester United and Tottenham Set for High-Stakes Showdowns in New Europa League Format.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have learned their opponents in the revamped Europa League, with both clubs facing challenging fixtures in the league phase. The draw has set the stage for some thrilling matchups, including a reunion between Manchester United and their former manager, José Mourinho.

Manchester United's Path in the Europa League

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United are set for a high-profile clash against Fenerbahçe, now managed by José Mourinho, the former Red Devils boss who led the club to a Europa League victory in 2017. Adding more intrigue to the tie, United will also face their former midfielder Fred, who currently plays for the Turkish side.

Manchester United’s Europa League campaign will see them host Scottish giants Rangers at Old Trafford, a match that promises to be one of the most anticipated fixtures in the group. The encounter has been dubbed a “Battle of Britain,” with United also set to travel to Glasgow to face Rangers at Ibrox.

United’s other group stage fixtures include challenging away games against Porto, Viktoria Plzeň, and Twente, while they will also host PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, and FCSB at Old Trafford. With such a demanding schedule, Manchester United will need to be at their best to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.

Tottenham's Tough Road Ahead

Tottenham Hotspur, under the leadership of Ange Postecoglou, will also face a series of formidable opponents in their Europa League campaign. Spurs are set to travel to Turkey to face Galatasaray and to Germany for a showdown with Hoffenheim, both of which are expected to be tough away fixtures.

In addition to their travels, Tottenham will host Roma, managed by another familiar face in José Mourinho, who will undoubtedly be eager to prove himself against his former club. The North London side will also play host to AZ Alkmaar, Qarabag, and Elfsborg in what promises to be a series of challenging home matches.

Postecoglou, who previously managed Celtic, joked about the reception he expects from Rangers fans when his side travels to Ibrox. “Exciting. It's good to be a part of. Some good games,” he said, adding, “I am sure I will get a warm reception at Ibrox, and they'll look forward to seeing me.”

New Europa League Format

This season’s Europa League follows a new format, mirroring the structure of the Champions League. The competition’s 36 teams will each play eight matches in the league phase. The top eight teams will advance directly to the last-16, while those finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a play-off round to compete for the remaining spots in the knockout stage. The bottom eight teams will be eliminated from the competition.

One of the significant changes this season is that no teams from the Champions League will dropp down into the Europa League, raising the stakes for those involved from the outset.

Manchester United's and Tottenham's Routes to the Europa League

Manchester United secured their place in the Europa League by winning the FA Cup last season, overcoming Manchester City in the final. However, their eighth-place finish in the Premier League meant they missed out on qualifying through their league position. The Europa League now represents a crucial opportunity for Ten Hag’s men to make an impact on the European stage this season.

Tottenham, on the other hand, qualified for the Europa League by finishing fifth in the Premier League, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot by just two points. Postecoglou’s side will be eager to make a strong showing in Europe, especially after a disappointing campaign last season.

Looking Ahead to Bilbao

The ultimate goal for both Manchester United and Tottenham is to reach the Europa League final, which will take place in Bilbao on May 21. With the competition featuring some of Europe’s most formidable teams, both English clubs will need to navigate a challenging group stage before setting their sights on the trophy.

As the league phase kicks off, fans can look forward to an exciting and unpredictable Europa League campaign, with plenty of high-stakes encounters on the horizon.

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