Every single one of Manchester United, Spurs, and Rangers is prevented from playing a single team until the Europa League final, despite the fact that their potential route to the championship is becoming more transparent.
Each of the three British teams finished in the top eight of the redesigned league table, which consisted of 36 teams, and therefore automatically qualified for the round of sixteen that followed.
Rangers secured the final qualification spot on the final matchday after a strong campaign that saw them play both English teams in the competition. United and Spurs finished in third and fourth place, respectively, while Rangers secured the final qualification spot due to their strong performance.
With a victory over Union SG at Ibrox, the team coached by Philippe Clement was able to avoid a two-leg play-off. They were able to beat Bodo/Glimt on the basis of goal difference.
Bodo/Glimt, FCSB, AZ Alkmaar, Roma, Ajax, Anderlecht, Real Sociedad, and Viktoria Plzen were all able to advance to the next round of the play-offs, which concluded on Thursday night.
It has been decided that the draw for the Europa League will now take place at twelve o’clock in the afternoon. The draw will follow the exact same format as the draw for the Champions League, with a bracket already deciding the fixtures rather than a completely random draw.
There are eight teams that are automatically qualified, and they are seeded and placed in four different pairs based on their league standing. These pairs are as follows: first and second, third and fourth, fifth and sixth, and seventh and eighth.
The UEFA’s official website indicates that “the clubs are paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase to form four seeded pairs (clubs in positions 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8).”
In addition to this, it states that “the clubs that are a part of each seeded pair are drawn into one of two positions in the round of 16 against the relevant winner of the knockout phase play-offs, whose position was determined by the knockout phase play-off draw.”
During the round of 16, United and Spurs will face either AZ Alkmaar or Real Sociedad at home and away. Rangers, on the other hand, will face either Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce, depending on which side of the bracket they are in.
According to the system, each pair is assigned to one of two positions in the draw. This means that they will be on opposite sides of the bracket and will not be able to compete against each other until the final, which will take place on May 21 at the San Mames stadium in Athletic Bilbao.
It is only possible for United and Spurs to compete against one another in an all-English final because of this. Furthermore, Rangers, who are the finalists for the 2022 tournament, have been paired with Olympiakos, a Greek team, and they will not be able to play Olympiakos until the final.
As a result of the draw, clubs will have a better idea of how their path to the championship match will unfold, beginning with the quarterfinals and semi-finals. The draw will also throw up potential opponents in the last sixteen.
It is possible that Manchester United will advance to the final of the Europa League.
Real Sociedad or AZ Alkmaar are likely to be United’s opponents in the next round, as was previously mentioned. Frankfurt, Lyon, FCSB, or Ajax could be United’s opponents in the quarterfinals.
Potential opponents for the semi-finals include Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Olympiakos, Rangers, Roma, Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt, and Fenerbahce. Other teams that could be considered include Fenerbahce.
It is possible that Tottenham will advance to the final of the Europa League.
The fact that Spurs and United are paired together means that the two teams will not face each other until the final, despite the fact that both teams have the same potential route as it currently stands. They will play Real Sociedad or AZ Alkmaar, depending on who United gets, and if they continue to advance, they will play whoever is not drawn against United for the next three rounds. If they do not face United, they will play whoever is not drawn against United.
Possibilities for Rangers to advance to the final of the Europa League
Rangers will face either Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce in the round of 16, and if they advance to the round of 16, they will have the opportunity to face either Athletic Bilbao or Lazio, the two teams that have performed the best through the competition.
There is also the possibility that they will face Viktoria Plzen or Roma in a draw that would appear to be more favourable to them, depending on the bracket. However, they might face United or Spurs once more in a crucial semi-final matchup, in addition to Real Sociedad, Lyon, Frankfurt, FCSB, Ajax, or AZ Alkmaar. This would be a significant matchup for them.
