Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have discovered their opponents for the Europa League last-16 stage and potential foes for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
The two Premier League outfits both managed to avoid the rigmarole of a knockout round playoff courtesy of top-eight finishes in the league phase, thus earning a direct ticket to the last 16.
There, Ruben Amorim's Man United will square off with familiar opponents Real Sociedad, whom they defeated in the 2020-21 Europa League last 32 before also meeting in the 2022-23 group stage, losing 1-0 at home before an identical win on the road.
If Man United can oust their Spanish foes from the last-16 stage, their quarter-final opponents will be either French giants Lyon or Romanian outfit FCSB, which could precede a mouthwatering semi-final.
Scottish Premiership side Rangers will take on Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in one of the other last-16 ties on the same side of the draw, meaning that Man United could either reunite with their former manager or face a Battle of Britain in the final four.
In order for one of those two possible scenarios to materialise, either Rangers or Fenerbahce would have to battle past Athletic Bilbao or Claudio Ranieri's Roma in another colossal last-16 tie.
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© Imago
On the other side of the last-16 draw, Man United's Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur face a quick reunion with Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar, whom they edged out 1-0 in the third matchweek of the league phase.
Should Ange Postecoglou's men come up trumps in that battle, their quarter-final opponents will be either Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax, the latter of whom they memorably defeated in the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals.
If Tottenham make it as far as the semis, a possible clash with Italian powerhouses Lazio - who topped the league phase - awaits, if the Biancocelesti can earn an expected last-16 win over Viktoria Plzen.
Finally, Olympiacos and Bodo/Glimt will also be fighting for the right to potentially meet Lazio in the last eight and Tottenham in the final four, and Spurs could meet either Man United or Rangers in the showpiece match in Bilbao on May 21.
The last-16 ties - for which Spurs and Man United will both be at home in the second leg - take place on March 6 and 13, before the quarter-finals are played on April 10 and 17.
The Europa League semi-finals are then scheduled for May 1 and May 8, before a new champion is crowned at San Mames on May 21.
2024-25 Europa League last-16, quarter-final draw in full:
Last 16:
Bodo/Glimt vs. Olympiacos
Fenerbahce vs. Rangers
Ajax vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
FCSB vs. Lyon
AZ Alkmaar vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United
Viktoria Plzen vs. Lazio
Roma vs. Athletic Bilbao
Quarter-finals:
Viktoria Plzen/Lazio vs. Bodo/Glimt vs. Olympiacos
Ajax/Eintracht Frankfurt vs. AZ Alkmaar vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Roma/Athletic Bilbao vs. Fenerbahce/Rangers
FCSB/Lyon vs. Real Sociedad/Manchester United
Ben Knapton
