Manchester United will clash with Barcelona in the Europa League Round of 32.
United were drawn as the first seeded team to be paired with the Catalan giants.
After elimination from the Champions League, Xavi had claimed his side were favourites for the competition.
They were disappointing in Europe’s premier club competition, picking up just one point from four games against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. But they are flying high at the top of LaLiga with 11 wins from 13 games.
It won’t be an easy game at all for United but they do have the benefit of playing the second leg at Old Trafford.
A former Champions League final
It’s fair to say the reaction from Man United fans has been much of frustration at drawing perhaps the most dangerous opponent they could have.
The fact this is a Europa League knockout game is perhaps a sign of how far both clubs have fallen.
In 2008-09 and 2010-11 this was the Champions League final with a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona coming out on top on both occasions – 2-0 and 3-1 respectively.
Erik ten Hag’s side will be out for revenge and they may also come face-to-face with their long-time target Frenkie de Jong.
DRAW IN FULL
BARCELONA VS MANCHESTER UNITED
JUVENTUS VS NANTES
SPORTING LISBON VS MIDTJYLLAND
SHAKHTAR DONETSK VS STADE RENNAIS
AJAX VS UNION BERLIN
BAYER LEVERKUSEN VS AS MONACO
SEVILLA VS PSV EINDHOVEN
RB SALZBURG VS ROMA
