Who can Man Utd draw in 2022/23 Europa League last 16?
Manchester United produced an almost nerveless performance on Thursday night to reach the Europa League last 16.
Having drawn the first leg of their knockout playoff tie with Barcelona 2-2 at Camp Nou, the Red Devils returned to Old Trafford with home advantage knowing a positive result would send them through.
Robert Lewandowski's early penalty put the cat amongst the pigeons, but a precise equaliser from Fred and Antony's 73rd-minute effort saw Erik ten Hag's side go through 4-3 on aggregate, dumping the Catalans out of Europe in the process.
United are fighting on a number of fronts this season, but who could be their next opponents on Thursday nights?
Who could Man Utd face in 2022/23 Europa League last 16?
The last 16 draw for the 2022/23 Europa League is scheduled for 11:00 GMT on Friday at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland following Thursday night's matches. Fans will be abe to watch through UEFA's channels.
There are a handful of teams United cannot be placed against in the next round. English teams cannot be drawn against each other until the quarter-final stage, so the Red Devils won't face Arsenal just yet.
The eight group winners are seeded in the draw while the winners of the playoffs are unseeded. That means United could be pitted against Real Sociedad again, having played the Spaniards during the group stage.
- Union Saint-Gilloise
- SC Freiburg
- Ferencvaros
- Feyenoord
- Real Betis
- Real Sociedad
- Fenerbahce
Other potential opponents include Belgians Union Saint-Gilloise, La Liga side Real Betis and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce.
Juventus, Sporting CP, Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk, Union Berlin and Roma join United as unseeded teams in the draw, having each won their playoff ties.
This round is the last stage where there are limitations for the draw. From the quarter-finals, all remaining teams can be drawn against each other.
The last 16 legs will be played on Thursday 9 March and a week later on 16 March. The unseeded team in the tie plays the first leg at home and the second away.
Manchester United's 2022/23 Europa League campaign so far
United have reemerged as a dangerous force under Ten Hag, though their Europa League campaign started auspiciously with a home defeat to Real Sociedad in September.
That loss proved pivotal in Group E. While United won the rest of their games coming up against FC Sheriff and Omonia Nicosia, they would finish level on points with Sociedad but a goal behind on goal difference.
That resulted in United finishing second and entering the knockout playoff round and being given La Liga leaders Barcelona, who had dropped out of the Champions League after being paired with Bayern Munich and Inter.
A classic first leg saw momentum swing both ways as Barça struck first through Marcos Alonso before Marcus Rashford equalised. The in-form forward then forced an own goal from Jules Kounde, but Raphinha's strike from distance restored parity at 2-2.
In the return leg, Bruno Fernandes was penalised for bringing down Alejandro Balde, allowing Lewandowski to just about beat David de Gea from the spot.
Fred made it 3-3 just after half time by finishing well from Fernandes' pass before Antony converted to put United ahead following some pinball in the Barça box.