Man Utd to face Barcelona as Europa League play-off round draw is confirmed

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    Manchester United have learnt their next Europa League opponent will be Barcelona after the draw for the play-off round was completed at UEFA's Swiss headquarters.

    Erik ten Hag's side have been forced to get through an extra two-legged tie, which will take place in February, after finishing second in their group to Real Sociedad on goal difference. They and the other seven runners-up have been pitted against the eight teams who finished third in their Champions League group.

    Arsenal, the other English side in the competition, avoided such a fate by winning their group. They therefore won't discover who they'll face in the round of 16 until next year, with that draw set for February 24.

    READ MORE:Champions League round of 16 draw pits Liverpool against Real Madrid

    United will have the advantage of being at home against Barca in the second leg with the dates for both matches to be confirmed by UEFA later today (November 7). Following those ties, the victors will face one of the eight group winners.

    The Red Devils won the competition in the 2017 when Jose Mourinho was in charge, which remains their last major trophy. Winning it gives another route into next season's Champions League should United not finish in the top four in the Premier League.

    Who will win the Europa League? Let us know in the comments section.

    They'll have to get through the Catalan giants first, though. Xavi's side slipped out of UEFA's premier competition after Bayern Munich and Inter Milan claimed the top two spots in their group.

    They've never won the Europa League but have five Champions League trophies to their name, compared to United's three.

    Elsewhere in the draw, Juventus were handed a favourable fixture, taking on Ligue 1 side Nantes. Six-time winners Sevilla were given PSV Eindhoven, while Europa League Conference holders Roma will face Salzburg.

    Europa League play-off round draw in full:

    • Barcelona vs Manchester United
    • Juventus vs Nantes
    • Sporting CP vs Midtjylland
    • Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes
    • Ajax vs Union Berlin
    • Bayer Leverkusen vs Monaco
    • Sevilla vs PSV Eindhoven
    • Salzburg vs Roma

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    • Manchester United FC
    • Europa League
    • Barcelona FC
    • Juventus FC
    • Ajax FC
    • Sevilla FC

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