Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have both discovered their potential Europa League last-16 opponents after sealing top-eight finishes in the league phase on Thursday evening.
Both Premier League giants avoided the rigmarole of a two-legged playoff courtesy of respective wins on matchday eight, where the Red Devils saw off FCSB while Spurs trumped Elfsborg.
Ruben Amorim's men prevailed 2-0 in Bucharest courtesy of strikes from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo, which were enough to confirm a third-placed standing for the 2017 winners.
Meanwhile, Spurs finished one place and one point below the Red Devils after relying on their young guns to down Elfsborg, as Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore all made the net bulge.
The two sides can now put their feet up in a continental sense as 16 teams prepare to contest the playoffs, the first leg of which will be held on February 13, one week before the return fixtures on February 20.
Man United could meet Galatasaray, Real Sociedad in Europa League last 16
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As Man United and Spurs finished third and fourth respectively, they could both meet one of four sides in the last 16; AZ Alkmaar, FC Midtjylland, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray.
At this juncture, either Midtjylland or AZ will be facing either Real Sociedad or Galatasaray, as the draw for the knockout round playoffs is set to be held on Friday at 12pm UK time.
Tottenham took on both Galatasaray and AZ in the league phase, suffering an excruciating 3-2 loss to the former away from home but managing to get the better of the Dutch outfit 1-0 on their own patch.
In contrast, Man United did not meet any of their four potential opponents in the league phase, but they faced off with Real Sociedad in the 2020-21 and 2022-23 competitions, losing just one of their four head-to-heads.
The Red Devils also have recent when it comes to tackling Galatasaray, playing out two enthralling affairs with the Turkish side in last season's Champions League group phase but failing to win either of them, memorably going down 3-2 at the Theatre of Dreams.
Who could Rangers face in the Europa League last 16?
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Man United and Spurs are two of three British teams to secure safe passage into the last 16 of the Europa League, where Rangers will also be present courtesy of their eighth-placed finish.
Philippe Clement's men dramatically clinched the final automatic qualification spot with a 2-1 triumph over Union Saint-Gilloise, and the Gers could also come up against Turkish or Dutch opposition next up.
FC Twente and Fenerbahce represent two possible opponents for Rangers, who may also be drawn against Belgian outfit Anderlecht or Norwegian powerhouses Bodo/Glimt on Friday.
Regardless of how the playoff draw plays out, Rangers cannot meet either Man United or Tottenham before the semi-finals, while the Red Devils and the Lilywhites could end up contesting the final in Bilbao on May 21.
Ben Knapton
