Europa League Draw: Manchester United Faces Real Sociedad, Tottenham Takes on AZ Alkmaar
Image credits: ESPN
The Europa League round of 16 draw has been completed, and Manchester United will face Real Sociedad, while Tottenham Hotspur will take on AZ Alkmaar. The draw, which took place on Friday, has set up some exciting matchups as the teams vie for a spot in the quarterfinals. United, who finished third in their group, will travel to San Sebastian for the first leg on March 6 before hosting Sociedad at Old Trafford a week later. The two teams have met several times in European competition in recent years, with United winning a Europa League knockout phase play-off tie in 2021 and both sides winning away from home in the group stage in 2022/23.
Tottenham, on the other hand, will face AZ Alkmaar, a team they have already beaten 1-0 in the group stage this season. The first leg will take place in the Netherlands on March 6, with the return leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a week later. If Spurs can overcome Alkmaar, they will face a difficult-looking quarterfinal against either Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt. The winner of that tie will then face one of four possible opponents in the semifinals, including Norwegian champions FK Bodo/Glimt, Greek side Olympiacos, Czech team Viktoria Plzen, or Italian Serie A side Lazio.
The Europa League draw has also set up some other exciting matchups, including Rangers vs. Fenerbahce, AS Roma vs. Athletic Bilbao, and Ajax vs. Eintracht Frankfurt. The quarterfinals will take place on April 10 and 17, with the semifinals scheduled for May 1 and 8. The final will be played at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on May 21. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are among the favorites to win the tournament, but they will face stiff competition from other top teams in Europe. The Europa League is considered the second-most prestigious international club competition in European football, after the Champions League, and the winner will receive a significant amount of prize money and a spot in the UEFA Super Cup.
Here is the full Europa League last-16 draw:
- Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) vs. Lazio (Italy)
- Bodo/Glimt (Norway) vs. Olympiacos (Greece)
- Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands) vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
- AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (England)
- AS Roma (Italy) vs. Athletic Bilbao (Spain)
- Fenerbahce (Turkey) vs. Rangers (Scotland)
- FCS Bucharest (Romania) vs. Lyon (France)
- Real Sociedad (Spain) vs. Manchester United (England)
- QF1: Bodo/Olympiacos vs. Plzen/Lazio
- QF2: AZ/Tottenham vs. Ajax/Frankfurt
- QF3: Fenerbahce/Rangers vs. Roma/Bilbao
- QF4: Bucharest/Lyon vs. Sociedad/Man Utd
The road to the Europa League final in Bilbao is set, and it promises to be an exciting and competitive tournament. With some of the top teams in Europe competing, fans can expect to see some thrilling matchups and unexpected upsets. The Europa League is a prestigious tournament that attracts a large following, and this season's competition is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years.
sociedad real europa alkmaar tottenham unit manchester hotspur league draw
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