Man Utd, Spurs and Rangers' routes to Europa League final made clearer as final 16 confirmed
Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers' routes to the Europa League final have been confirmed following the conclusion of the play-off round matches.
All three teams were able to automatically qualify from the competition's new-look group stage format, which was held over eight matches.
United were the only unbeaten team in the group stage, finishing in third place behind Lazio and Athletic Bilbao after winning five of their eight matches.
Spurs suffered defeat to Turkish giants Galatasaray but bounced back to end the group stage on a four-match unbeaten run, winning against Hoffenheim and Elfsborg in the final two rounds to secure their spot in the last 16.
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And Rangers also managed to get through despite increasing pressure on manager Philippe Clement, with a last-day win over Union SG at Ibrox enough to progress automatically.
The draw for the last 16 stage will mirror the format used in the Champions League.
The eight automatically-qualified teams will effectively be placed in four separate pairs for the draw - 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th, and 7th and 8th.
Each 'pair' will only be be able to be placed in one of two positions in the draw, to ensure they are placed on the opposite sides and cannot face each until the final.
So for instance, if the team who finished in first place is drawn in the first fixture of the bracket, the team who finished in second place will be drawn in the eighth and final fixture.
All eight of those teams are seeded in the last 16 draw and will play the first leg of their fixtures at home.
Manchester United's potential route to the Europa League final
Manchester United will take on Real Sociedad or AZ Alkmaar in the last 16 of the Europa League.
In the quarter-final, they could then face either Frankfurt or Lyon, who finished fifth and sixth respectively in the group stage, as well as FCSB or Ajax.
The draw then opens up even further for the semi-finals, with Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Olympiakos, Rangers, Roma, Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce all possible opponents.
Ruben Amorim's side will, though, not have to potentially face Tottenham until the final in the event of the two teams making it to that stage.
Tottenham's potential route to the Europa League final
Spurs won five of their eight group stage matches - including a 3-2 win at Hoffenheim (Image: Getty)
Tottenham's route to the final is effectively the same as United's, as they finished fourth and third respectively in the group stages and therefore are part of the same draw 'pairing'.
Ange Postecoglou's side, therefore, will still face Real Sociedad or AZ Alkmaar, but will take on the team that United aren't drawn against in the quarter-finals of the competition. The process is the same for the semi-finals.
Rangers' potential route to the Europa League final
Rangers will face the winner of Bodo/Glimt or Fenerbahce in the last 16 phase, depending on what side of the bracket they are drawn in.
The potential opponents for Philippe Clement's side if they reach the quarter-finals are Athletic Bilbao or Lazio, or Viktoria Plzen or Roma.
In the semi-finals, the Scottish giants could then face another tie against Manchester United - having faced them at Old Trafford in the group stage.
Tottenham are also another possible opponent, along with any of Real Sociedad, Lyon, Frankfurt, FCSB, Ajax or AZ Alkmaar.
Topics: Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Europa League, Football, Man Utd
Ryan Smart