Barcelona take on Manchester United in Europa League play-offs

Spanish side, who dropped down from Champions League for second season running, take on Ten Hag's men in battle of European giants

Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring Barcelona's first goal against Mallorca at Estadi de Son Moix on October 1, 2022 in Mallorca, Spain. Getty

Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring for Barcelona against Mallorca. Getty

Robert Lewandowski runs with the ball while under pressure from Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta. Getty

Barcelona players celebrate with Robert Lewandowski after his goal against Mallorca. AFP

Barcelona forward Ferran Torres vies for the ball with Mallorca midfielder Iddrisu Baba. AFP

Barcelona midfielder Gavi vies for the ball with Mallorca midfielder Iddrisu Mohamed Baba. AFP

Referee Jesus Gil Manzano shows a yellow card to Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. Getty

Barcelona forward runs with the ball between Mallorca players Iddrisu Baba and Pablo Maffeo. Reuters

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc- Andre Ter Stegen collects the ball. EPA

Marc-Andre ter Stegen celebrates victory with Sergio Busquets and Ferran Torres. Getty

Two of European football's biggest teams will clash in the Europa League play-offs as Barcelona were pitted against Manchester United in Monday's draw.

Spanish side Barca, who dropped down from Champions League for the second season running after finishing third in their group, will take on Erik Ten Hag's side at Camp Nou on February 16 for the first leg of the tie. The return at Old Trafford takes place on February 23.

United finished second in their Europa League group – behind another Spanish side in Real Sociedad – and will now take on the Catalan giants for the first time since 2019, when Barca triumphed 3-0 in Spain, sealing a 4-0 aggregate victory in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Red Devils also have some fond memories of Camp Nou, though, having completed the 1999 treble in the stadium with a last-gasp victory over Bayern Munich in that year’s Champions League final.

"We will have to compete, going to Manchester against a really top rival and an historic side which has grown a lot with the arrival of ten Hag," said Barcelona boss Xavi.

"[They have] great individual players and it is the toughest rival once again in the Europa League. It's a massive challenge for us."

Other teams who dropped down from the Champions League included Serie A side Juventus, who were drawn against French side Nantes; La Liga outfit Sevilla, who will face Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven, and Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen who will tackle Ligue 1 side Monaco.

Jose Mourinho's reigning Europa Conference League champions AS Roma will take on Austria's FC Red Bull Salzburg.

The eight group runners-up from the Europa League face eight third-placed sides from the Champions League group stages, with the winners of the two-legged play-offs progressing to the last 16.

Eight teams have already advanced to the last 16; Arsenal, Fenerbahce, Real Betis, Union Saint-Gilloise, Real Sociedad, Feyenoord, Freiburg and Ferencvaros.

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