By Can Erozden
ANKARA (AA) - Europe's second-tier UEFA Europa League knockout round playoffs will see a big showdown between Barcelona and Manchester United as the draw for this phase was held on Monday.
Barcelona, among the eight Champions League clubs who finished their groups third each, will play against England's Manchester United in the Europa League knockout round playoffs, a stage prior to the last 16.
Manchester United came second in Europa League Group E after Spain's Real Sociedad.
In addition to Barcelona, Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting, Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sevilla and Juventus entered Monday's draw as they reached the Europa League from the top-tier Champions League after the last matches on Nov. 2.
- Knockout round playoffs
- Feb. 16, 23
Barcelona - Manchester United
Juventus - Nantes
Sporting - Midtjylland
Shakhtar Donetsk - Rennes
Ajax - Union Berlin
Bayer Leverkusen - Monaco
Sevilla - PSV Eindhoven
Salzburg - Roma
The eight winners of the knockout round playoffs will qualify for the Round of 16, where they will face eight Europa League group winners.
The last 16 will be followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and final.
- 2023 final
This season's Europa League final will be at Budapest's Puskas Arena on May 31.
The venue earlier hosted the 2020 UEFA Super Cup that Bayern Munich beat Sevilla 2-1.
The Puskas Arena, the home of the Hungarian national team, hosted several matches at the UEFA EURO 2020.