Man Utd face Real Sociedad in Europa League, Spurs draw AZ Alkmaar

NYON –- Manchester United were handed a tricky Europa League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad while Tottenham Hotspur will play Dutch side AZ Alkmaar after the draw was held on Nov 21.

The two English sides have struggled in the Premier League this season, with Spurs 12th and United 15th, and winning the second-tier Europa League may be the only way they can return to the Champions League next season.

United and Spurs finished in the top four of the Europa League group stage to avoid the play-offs and will play their respective second legs at home.

United and Real Sociedad have met before in the Europa League, with the English side knocking them out in the last 32 in 2021 while they won a game each in the group stage in 2022.

Athletic Bilbao's San Mames Stadium will host the final in May and the Spanish side will play Serie A side AS Roma.

Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, who squeezed through to the play-offs in last place, knocked out Anderlecht with a 5-2 aggregate win after the second leg was briefly paused due to crowd trouble, and they will face Scottish side Rangers.

Should Fenerbahce reach the final, Mourinho could potentially face three of his former teams – Roma, United and Spurs.

German side Eintracht Frankfurt, who won the title in 2022, will face Eredivisie leaders Ajax Amsterdam while Greece's Olympiakos, who have the competition's top scorer in Ayoub El Kaabi (seven goals this season), take on Bodo/Glimt.

The Norwegian side are on a fairy-tale run in the Europa League where they overcame a 2-1 deficit against Twente in the play-off and won 5-2 in extra time on Feb 20 (6-4 on aggregate) to advance. REUTERS

Europa League last 16 (March 6 & 13):