United handed tricky Barca clash in Europa League play-off.

Manchester United have been handed a blockbuster clash with Barcelona in their Europa League knockout round play-off.

The Red Devils’ second-placed finish in Group E sees them pitted against the Catalan giants, who dropped down to Europe's secondary competition after slipping to third in their Champions League group for the second season running.

It is the first meeting between the pair, who have been crowned European champions a combined eight times, since Barca's 4-0 aggregate victory in the 2018-19 Champions League quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Juventus will have to overcome Ligue 1 side Nantes if they to progress to the last 16 after picking up just a single victory in Champions League Group H.

Ajax suffered similar fate in their campaign and have been handed a tricky tie against Union Berlin, who are two points off top spot in the Bundesliga.

The eight victors of the knockout play-offs will earn progression to face the eight Europa League group stage winners in the last 16.

Former European kings face off

With Barcelona vs Manchester United twice a Champions League final in 2008-09 and 2010-11, the pair facing off in a Europa League knockout play-off is perhaps a sign of how far both have fallen.

The pair have regularly competed for the top honours in Europe for much of their existence but have fallen on harder times in recent years.

Though there are signs of improvement under respective bosses Xavi and Erik ten Hag, neither are under any illusions of the big task at hand to lift them to their former glories.

Manchester United's last major honour was their 2016-17 Europa League triumph and both sides may now see this competition as an ideal chance to win some Europa silverware once again.

Europa League knockout round draw

Barcelona versus Manchester United

Juventus versus Nantes

Sporting versus Midtjylland

Shakhtar Donetsk versus Rennes

Ajax versus Union Berlin

Bayer Leverkusen versus Monaco

Sevilla versus PSV

FC Salzburg versus Roma.

Key dates

Knockout round play-offs: February 16 and 23,

Last 16: March 9 and 16,

Quarter-finals: April 13 and 20,

Semi-finals: May 11 and 18,

Final: May 31.

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