Man Utd have to navigate February play-off after finishing second in group; United will face one of the eight third-placed Champions League sides in a two-legged tie for a place in the Europa League last-16; Arsenal avoid play-off round after winning Group A
Monday 7 November 2022 12:38, UK
With Barcelona, Juventus, Ajax and Sevilla potential opponents, here's all you need to know as Manchester United await the draw for the Europa League play-offs.
The play-off draw only affects the sides who finish second in their Europa League groups, pitting them each against one of the eight teams who finish third in their Champions League groups.
It means each Europa League group winner gets a round off - and will head straight through to the last 16, meaning no more European football to worry about until March 9.
Both English sides in this season's Europa League, Arsenal and Manchester United, have qualified from the group stages.
However, United could only finish second to Real Sociedad in their group, meaning they face a play-off, while Arsenal beat Zurich on Thursday to claim top spot in Group A and automatic progression to the last-16.
The draw will be held at 12pm on Monday November 7, at the House of European Football at UEFA's headquarters in Switzerland.
The eight group runners-up from the Europa League will be seeded to face any of the eight third-placed sides from the Champions League group stages.
The only restriction involves national associations - no two sides from the same territory can be drawn against each other at this stage.
They miss out on the draw and receive a bye to the round of 16. On February 24, they will be seeded and drawn against one of the eight winners from this play-off round.
Again, teams from the same association will not be able to be drawn together.
Europa League second-placed sides, seeded
Champions League third-placed sides, unseeded
The first legs of the last play-off round will be played on February 16, 2023, before the return legs a week later.
Arsenal's automatic progression to the last 16 of this season's Europa League means they will have to wait for the conclusion of the play-off round before learning who they will face next in the competition.
The draw for the last 16 of the Europa League will take place on February 24, 2023, a day after the play-off second legs, with the last-16 ties held on March 9 and March 16 respectively.
