Barca were eliminated from the Champions League group stage to drop into the Europa League for the second season running, while United came second in their Europa League group. The eight group runners-up from the Europa League face eight third-placed sides from the Champions League group stages, with the winners of the two-legged play-offs progressing to the last 16.
It’s set!
Which tie are you looking forward to most?#UELdraw pic.twitter.com/OvquVAv4rL
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) November 7, 2022
The last meeting of the clubs came in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2018/19, with Barca winning 4-0 on aggregate.
They have met in two Champions League finals and in the 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup final, but this will be the first ever encounter of the sides in the Europa League.
The winners of the eight knockout round play-off ties will advance to the last 16, for which the eight Europa League group winners all qualified automatically.
Having also dropped out of Europe’s elite club competition, Juventus were drawn to play French club Nantes in what will be a repeat of the 1996 Champions League semi-final tie won by the Italians.
Sevilla, who have won the Europa League or its predecessor the UEFA Cup a record six times, will play PSV Eindhoven.
Ajax were drawn against Bundesliga high-fliers Union Berlin, while Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine will play French side Rennes.
Bayer Leverkusen will play Monaco and Jose Mourinho’s Roma will take on Red Bull Salzburg.
Premier League leaders Arsenal have already qualified for the last 16 along with Fenerbahce, Real Betis, Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium, Real Sociedad, Feyenoord, Freiburg and Ferencvaros.
This season’s Europa League final will be played in Budapest on May 31 next year.
First legs to be played February 16, second legs on February 23
Here are the Europa League Round of 16 matches –
Barcelona vs Manchester United
Juventus vs Nantes
Sporting CP vs Midtjylland
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes
Ajax vs Union Berlin
Bayer Leverkusen vs Monaco
Sevilla vs PSV
Salzburg vs Roma