Nyon, March 17 (BNA): Manchester United will face six-time Europa League winners Sevilla in the quarter-finals, while Juventus will face Sporting after a draw in Nyon on Friday.
United, who beat Real Betis in the last 16 legs, will travel to Spain again after Sevilla – who last won the tournament in 2020 – qualified despite losing the second leg to Fenerbahce.
According to Reuters, the Spanish team has never lost against United in three meetings, as it beat them for the last time in the semi-finals in 2020.
Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag highlighted Sevilla’s record in the competition but said his immediate focus was on domestic matches.
“It will be difficult, they have a lot of experience in the Europa League, they’ve won it many times. I don’t know in detail the team but the most important thing for me is football and I’m not looking forward to Sevilla,” he said.
“First we have the international break and then three Premier League games, so there’s plenty of time to focus on that
“Obviously all the opponents coming to this stage of the Europa League are strong and you have to play your best if you want to.”
And Juventus, who withdrew from the Champions League after finishing third in its group, will seek to win the tournament after its hopes for the first four places in the Italian League were dashed by a 15-point deduction due to transfer deals.
The Turin-based team is seventh in the league, 10 points behind fourth-placed AC Milan. Winning the Europa League guarantees a place in the Champions League next season.
Juventus’ rival Sporting beat Premier League leaders Arsenal 5-3 on penalties on Thursday after the last-16 match ended 3-3 on aggregate.
Dutch Feyenoord will face Roma in a repeat of last year’s European League final, where the Italian team won 1-0.
Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso, beat Hungarian Ferencvaros without conceding in two matches, and will face Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium, who ousted Union Berlin.
Quarter-finals of the European League
Manchester United v Seville
Juventus v Sporting
Bayer Leverkusen vs Union Saint-Gilloise
Feyenoord x Roma
The team you draw hosts the first leg
* First matches: April 13th
Second round: April 20
Semi-final draw
Semi-final 1: Juventus / Sporting – United / Sevilla
Semi-final 2: Feyenoord / Roma – Leverkusen / Union
The team you draw hosts the first leg
* First confrontations: May 11th
Second matches: May 18th.
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