In an exciting turn of events, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Rangers have now been matched with their Europa League round of 16 opponents. The road to the final in Bilbao is set, with each team facing unique challenges along the way. Let’s delve into the potential paths these teams must navigate to secure a coveted spot in the final showdown.
Team Matchups in the Round of 16
Manchester United, led by Ruben Amorim, will kick off their journey against Real Sociedad, who emerged victorious against Midtjylland in the knockout play-off round. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur will have a familiar foe in AZ Alkmaar, a team they already faced during the league phase. Rangers, on the other hand, will be facing off against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in their round of 16 clash, with the first legs set to begin on March 6 and the second legs following on March 13.
Potential Paths to the Final
Starting with Manchester United’s route to the Europa League final, they will need to overcome Real Sociedad in the round of 16. If successful, they could potentially face Lyon or FCSB in the quarter-final, followed by a semi-final challenge against the likes of Fenerbahce, Rangers, Roma, or Athletic Bilbao. The final showdown could see them pitted against Viktoria Plzen, Lazio, Olympiakos, Bodo/Glimt, Frankfurt, Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, or even Tottenham Hotspur.
Moving on to Tottenham Hotspur’s journey, they will be up against AZ Alkmaar in the round of 16. Progressing further, they might face Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax in the quarter-final, with a semi-final challenge against Bodo/Glimt, Olympiacos, Viktoria Plzen, or Lazio. The final could potentially see them compete against Real Sociedad, Manchester United, FCSB, Lyon, Fenerbahce, Rangers, AS Roma, or Athletic Bilbao.
Lastly, Rangers’ path to the final involves a tough test against Fenerbahce in the round of 16. Should they advance, they could find themselves up against Athletic Bilbao or Roma in the quarter-final, followed by a semi-final clash with FCSB, Lyon, Real Sociedad, or Manchester United. The final hurdle could see them competing against Viktoria Plzen, Lazio, Olympiakos, Bodo/Glimt, Frankfurt, Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, or Tottenham Hotspur.
Key Dates and Fixtures
The Europa League knockout rounds are set to kick off on March 6, with the second legs scheduled for March 13. Subsequent rounds will follow with the quarter-finals on April 10 and 17, the semi-finals on May 1 and 8, culminating in the final at the Estadio de San Mames in Bilbao, Spain, on May 21.
As the anticipation builds and the teams gear up for their upcoming challenges, football fans around the world eagerly await the thrilling matches that lie ahead. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments as the Europa League action unfolds.
