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Europa League final 2017: All you need to know about the climax to Europe's second-tier competition

A picture taken on May 18, 2016 shows the UEFA Europa League trophy prior to the final football match between Liverpool FC and Sevilla FC at the St Jakob-P
Image: This year's Europa League final takes place in Sweden in May

Manchester United are in the Europa League final, but when exactly is the climax to Europe's second-tier competition?

United reached the final with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Celta Vigo, and will face Ajax, who beat Lyon 5-4 on aggregate.

And here is all you need to know about the showdown, including when it is, where it is being held and what added incentive awaits the winners…

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When is the final?

This season's Europa League final is taking place on Wednesday, May 24. However, from 2019 the show-piece event is to be moved to the end of the domestic season so that it will be held in the same week as the Champions League final.

What time is kick-off?

The match gets underway at 7.45pm BST.

Where is the final?

The final is being held at Solna's Friends Arena in Stockholm. The ground has a capacity of 50,000 and was the scene of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's never-to-be-forgotten wonder goal in Sweden's 4-2 friendly international win over England in 2012.

Friends Arena in Stockholm will host Leicester's match with Barcelona
Image: The Friends Arena hosts this season's Europa League final

However, the Swede will not be featuring in his homeland after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the quarter-finals.

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Sweden's striker and team captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) celebrates with his teammates after scoring his 3rd goal of the match during the FIFA World Cup 20
Image: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (centre) celebrates after scoring that wondergoal against England at the Friends Arena in 2014

Did you know?

Stockholm is the only European city to have hosted the final of all four major international football events - the men's and women's World Cup and the men's and women's European Championships.

It's all to play for in Solna...

Not only do the winners get to lift a new trophy this month after Sevilla won it for a third straight time last year, but they will also be given safe passage into the group stage of next season's Champions League.

Liverpool v Sevilla - UEFA Europa League Final
Image: Sevilla won the competition for a third straight time last season

Big incentive for United

Europe's second trophy is the only one the Red Devils have never won in either its current or previous form as the UEFA Cup.

"It would be great to close the circle and say we won every competition in the football world," said United manager Jose Mourinho ahead of his side's first leg semi-final tie with Celta.

This time last year

Another Premier League team, Liverpool, were also preparing to play their semi-final clash against an opponent from La Liga, with the Reds going on to beat Villarreal 3-1 on aggregate, only to lose to Sevilla by the same scoreline in the final.

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