Man Utd, Spurs and Rangers blocked from playing one team until Europa League final
Manchester United, Spurs and Rangers are all blocked from playing one team until the Europa League final as their potential path to the showpiece becomes clearer.
The three British sides all qualified automatically for the round of 16 after finishing in the top eight of the revamped 36-team league table.
United and Spurs finished third and fourth respectively, with Rangers snatching the final qualification spot on the last matchday after a solid campaign which saw them play both English sides in the competition.
Philippe Clement's side avoided a two-legged play-off after a win over Union SG at Ibrox, pipping Bodo/Glimt on goal difference.
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The play-offs concluded on Thursday night, with Bodo/Glimt, FCSB, AZ Alkmaar, Roma, Ajax, Anderlecht, Real Sociedad and Viktoria Plzen all progressing over two legs.
The Europa League draw will now take place at 12pm and will adopt the very same format as the Champions League, with a bracket already deciding fixtures as opposed to a completely random draw.
The eight automatically-qualified teams are seeded and placed in four separate pairs going off their league standing - 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th, and 7th and 8th.
UEFA's website states that "the clubs are paired based on their positions at the end of the league phase to form four seeded pairs (clubs in positions 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8)."
It also adds: “The clubs in each seeded pair are drawn into one of two positions in the round of 16 against the relevant winner of the knockout phase play-offs, whose position was determined by the knockout phase play-off draw.”
In the round of 16, United and Spurs will play either AZ Alkmaar or Real Sociedad home and away, while Rangers will play Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce - depending on what side of the bracket they are in.
The system sees each pair placed in one of two positions in the draw, meaning they will be in opposite sides of the bracket and cannot face each until the final at Athletic Bilbao's San Mames stadium on 21 May.
Because of this, the only time United and Spurs can meet is in an all-English final. In addition, 2022 finalists Rangers are paired with Greek side Olympiakos and they will not be able to play them until the final.
The draw will throw up potential opponents in the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals - with clubs having an idea of what their run to the final will look like.
Manchester United's potential route to the Europa League final
As mentioned, United are poised for a showdown with Real Sociedad or AZ Alkmaar in the next round, with Frankfurt, Lyon, FCSB or Ajax possible quarter-final opponents.
For the semi-finals, Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Olympiakos, Rangers, Roma, Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce are all potential opponents.
Tottenham's potential route to the Europa League final
Spurs are paired with United and so the two sides will avoid each other until the final, with both having the same potential route as it stands. They will face Real Sociedad or AZ Alkmaar - depending on who United get - and will take on whoever is not drawn against United for the next three rounds if they continue to progress.
Rangers' potential route to the Europa League final
It will be one of Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce in the last 16 for Rangers, who could then play one of the two best-performing sides in the competition in Athletic Bilbao or Lazio, in the last 16.
Bracket depending, they could also face Viktoria Plzen or Roma in what would appear to be a more favourable draw. However, they could potentially come up against United or Spurs again in a huge semi-final clash - as well as Real Sociedad, Lyon, Frankfurt, FCSB, Ajax or AZ Alkmaar.
Topics: Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Europa League
Josh Lawless