Breaking down UEFA Europa League draw: Xavi and Barcelona to beat Man United?

2 years ago 41

2:12 PM ET

Julien LaurensCorrespondent

It was written that for the archetypal play of these revamped Europa League knockout rounds -- there's present a playoff circular betwixt teams that finished 3rd successful their Champions League groups and teams that finished 2nd successful their Europa League groups -- determination would beryllium a immense tie. And the gully didn't disappoint!

- UEL Draw: Barca vs. Man United the prime of the round

Barcelona and Manchester United, 2 European giants chasing a mode backmost to the top, volition look each different for a spot successful the past 16. It means that 1 of the 2 managers, Erik 10 Hag and Xavi, volition beryllium retired of Europe precise early, which volition beryllium different embarrassment and different happening for the nine to woody with.

On paper, Barcelona are somewhat up successful their improvement and process, but United tin besides bushed them. It volition beryllium a tactical battle, too; beyond it marking Cristiano Ronaldo's instrumentality to the Camp Nou -- arsenic good arsenic for Raphael Varane and Casemiro -- it volition beryllium the Frenkie De Jong derby. It could beryllium Sergio Busquets' last-ever European action, too, which amounts to a perchance fascinating tie.

- Stream connected ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, much (U.S.)

As Xavi enactment it connected Monday, "The gully has fixed america the astir hard hostile erstwhile again, but we volition look guardant to it and we volition vie ... It's the worst gully we could person got. Once again. Sometimes it's a positive to play against the champion sides. Maybe it volition bring the champion retired of america present and astatine Old Trafford. It's a challenge."

The remainder is not arsenic eye-catching by comparison, though determination are inactive immoderate compelling matchups. Three successful peculiar person the consciousness of Champions League ties:

- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Monaco, oregon the Kevin Volland derby fixed helium spent 4 seasons scoring goals successful the Bundesliga earlier joining the Ligue 1 nine successful 2020. Monaco and Philippe Clement are hitting signifier and volition anticipation to inactive beryllium successful apical signifier successful February successful bid to springiness Xabi Alonso's broadside a pugnacious test.

Alonso, a fable arsenic a subordinate and present enjoying his archetypal elder coaching job, inactive lacks acquisition and has to larn quickly. If not, the squad from the principality could beryllium excessively tricky to overcome. Wissam Ben Yedder (nine goals) and Breel Embolo pb from the beforehand for Monaco, portion Alex Nubel has played each infinitesimal betwixt the posts.

- Sevilla vs. PSV Eindhoven is going to beryllium great, too. Jorge Sampaoli is trying to revive Sevilla's season, but helium has yet to find the close formula. However, the Europa League is their competition, having won 4 of the past 10 editions.

While Sevilla are struggling, PSV are flying. They bushed Arsenal successful the radical signifier adjacent if they inactive finished 2nd down the Gunners successful the end. Ruud Van Nistelrooy is gathering a young squad with large imaginable and if Cody Gakpo is inactive successful their squad by the clip the archetypal limb rolls around, they volition beryllium my favourites to qualify.

RB Salzburg vs. Roma is truly the communicative of 2 managers, the apprentice against the master: Mathias Jassle vs. José Mourinho. At 34, Jaissle has a large aboriginal up of him and his young Salzburg squad matched up good with Chelsea and Milan successful their Champions League group, drafting against both. At 59, Mourinho wants to adhd the Europa League to his trophy furniture aft winning the Europa Conference League past season, but he'll person to rally the Giallorossi to their champion signifier fixed inconsistent performances successful Serie A truthful acold this campaign.

Otherwise, Juventus person been arguably the luckiest broadside successful the draw, with Nantes coming their way. The French Cup winners past play are precise overmuch among the minnows near successful the contention and they wanted the biggest hostile imaginable -- see that privation granted! The players celebrated erstwhile they drew Juve, and they volition person thing to lose. For the Old Lady, the biggest unit is that they simply can't spend to lose, arsenic it would beryllium a due humiliation if they did.

Ajax vs. Union Berlin is the clash of 2 extremes, putting opposing styles head-to-head successful an intriguing battle. The Dutch broadside volition person a batch of the ball, with the Bundesliga broadside each excessively blessed to play connected the counter. Ajax are favourites, undoubtedly, but Union support defying the odds. Elsewhere, Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Rennes volition beryllium an attacking affair, though I judge the French broadside are the amended squad here. Finally, Sporting volition spell into their games against Midtjylland arsenic the favourites too.