The Europa League draw for the play-off round of the 2022/23 tournament has been confirmed, with Manchester United due to face Barcelona in the round tie.
Barcelona were among eight teams to finish third in their Champions League group and then meet in the Europa League, with those eight teams being drawn against one of eight teams to finish second in their Europa League group.
Arsenal finished top of their group and thus received a bye to the Round of 16, but Manchester United failed to finish first and will therefore face Barcelona in a mouth-watering Europa League round-trip tie.
The two giants last met in the 2018/19 Champions League quarter-finals, with Barcelona winning 4-0 on aggregate. Both clubs have struggled in recent years, however, and come face to face in a bid to progress in Europe’s second-tier competition.
Juventus have drawn Nantes for their play-off, with the French side currently occupying a spot above the relegation zone in Ligue 1. French side Rennes are enjoying varying league fortunes this season in third place, and they will face Shakhtar Donetsk in an attempt to progress in the tournament.
Unlucky not to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, Sporting will have to beat Danish club Midtjylland if they are to taste European glory this season. Meanwhile, Sevilla take on PSV in what looks to be a very intriguing clash.
PSV were unlucky not to beat Arsenal at the top of their Europa League group, finishing level on points with the Gunners. Sevilla are also struggling in La Liga, 17th in the standings and dropping out of the Champions League.
Dutch side Ajax face it in their play-off, facing Bundesliga top-flight side Union Berlin in perhaps the toughest game to call. Both clubs are exciting to watch with brilliant fanbases, so expect plenty of action and entertainment on the pitch and in the stands.
The draw prompted a clash between Jose Mourinho’s Roma and Red Bull Salzburg, with Roma looking to add Europa League glory to their Europa Conference League trophy from last season.
Finally, Bayer Leverkusen will play against Monaco, with Leverkusen being the only German team to drop out of the Champions League so far this season.
Full Europa League play-off draw:
Barcelona v Manchester United
Juventus-Nantes
Sporting v Midtjylland
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes
Ajax v Union Berlin
Bayer Leverkusen v Monaco
Sevilla v PSV
Red Bull Salzburg v Roma
