Manchester United's path to progression in the 2022-23 Europa League will now require them to come through a playoff against Barcelona.
The Red Devils failed to beat Real Sociedad by a two-goal margin in their final match day of the group stages with Alejandro Garnacho's only strike of the game proving futile.
That meant Sociedad topped the group on goal difference, sending United into a playoff against an opponent who recently dropped out of the Champions League.
The Sporting News is on hand to bring you all the details of what's next for the Red Devils.
How is Europa League round of 16 qualification decided?
The teams who finish first in each of the eight Europa League groups reach the round of 16 automatically.
The eight sides who finish second are placed in a draw with the eight teams who finish third in the Champions League group stage.
The eight runners-up from the Europa League group stage will be seeded in the draw, while their potential rivals from the Champions League group stage will be unseeded.
Clubs from the same association cannot be drawn against each other, which means United would not be drawn against Chelsea or Tottenham – the two English teams who could still finish third in their Champions League groups.
We move on and we keep going after our goals this season! Thanks to our supporters that never give up on us!👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/KPXpPz2Jng
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 3, 2022
When is the Europa League knockout round?
The first leg of the two-legged knockout tie takes place on February 16, with the return leg played a week later on February 23.
As an unseeded team, Barcelona will play the first leg of their Europa League knockout playoff tie at home, with the return leg on the road.
The winners will play in the Europa League round of 16, which has legs taking place on March 9 and 16. The quarterfinals take place on April 13 and 20, with the semifinals on May 11 and 18 and the final on May 31.
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Who could Man United have drawn in Europa League knockout round?
Five-time Champions League winners Barcelona was probably the team Erik ten Hag wanted least. The Red Devils will now play against long-term target Frenkie de Jong and lethal striker Robert Lewandowski, the reigning FIFA men's player of the year.
Ajax, who United beat in the 2017 Europa League final, finished third in their group were also an option, as were wantaway United striker Cristiano Ronaldo's first club, Sporting Lisbon.
Here is the full list of opponents who United could have faced in a Europa League playoff:
- Ajax
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Barcelona
- Sporting Lisbon
- RB Salzburg
- Shakthar Donetsk
- Sevilla
- Juventus
