Europa: Facing Man Utd, Most Difficult Fixture

Manchester United may have got the toughest draw they could have in the Europa League by meeting Barcelona – but Xavi insists it works both ways.

Barcelona failed to get out of a group which included Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, dropping into the Europa League for the second season running. United, meanwhile, finished second in their group behind LaLiga side Real Sociedad.

The tie will be played over two legs on Feb. 16 and Feb. 23, with the first leg taking place at Camp Nou and the return game at Old Trafford a week later.

It is a draw both sides would have liked to avoid, with Barcelona and United among the favourites to go all the way in the competition.

Barcelona are top of LaLiga having lost just one game in the league this season following summer spending of over €150 million, including the €45m signing of Robert Lewandowski.

United, meanwhile, have shown positive signs under new coach Erik ten Hag this season, although they saw a nine-game unbeaten run ended by Aston Villa at the weekend.

“The draw has given us the most difficult opponent once again,” Barca coach Xavi said. “But we will look forward to it and we will compete.They are a historic side, they have grown a lot with the arrival of Ten Hag, they have great players. It’s the worst draw we could have got. Once again.

“No luck. Sometimes it’s a plus to play against the best sides. Maybe it will bring the best out of us here and at Old Trafford. It’s a challenge.”

It will be the first meeting between the two clubs since they faced each other in the Champions League quarterfinal in 2018-19. Barcelona won both games on that occasion, progressing 4-0 on aggregate.

The two sides also met in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, with Barcelona winning both times, while United’s last win against the Spanish side came in the 2008 Champions League semifinal.

The winners will advance to the round of 16, where they will be drawn against one of the eight teams who won their Europa League group. Arsenal, Real Betis, Real Sociedad are among those sides.

This season’s final will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 31, with Budapest-based Ferencvaros among the other teams that will enter the competition in the next round.

The Champions League draw took place earlier, with Liverpool facing Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich.

Europa League Playoff Draw:

Barcelona vs. Manchester United

Juventus vs. Nantes

Sporting vs. Midtjylland

Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Rennes

Ajax vs. Union Berlin

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Monaco

Sevilla vs. PSV Eindhoven