The Europa League might be considered Europe’s second-tier continental competition, but there is a tie in this season’s playoff round worthy of global attention.
Barcelona, who dropped out of the Champions League after finishing behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in their group, will face Manchester United in a two-legged tie in February.
Serie A giants Juventus are also involved at this stage and will face Nantes, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma will take on Austria’s RB Salzburg.
The winners of the playoff ties will progress to the Europa League Round of 16.
Europa League knockout playoffs draw, schedule
The winners from the playoff round will advance to the Round of 16 and will be matched up against a Europa League group winner. All eight Europa League group winners earned a bye straight to the Round of 16.
The two-leg playoff matchups will be played in February. The draw for the Round of 16 will take place on February 24, the day after the playoff round concludes.
| Match | Date | Time (BST / ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona vs. Manchester United | Feb 16 | 17:45 / 12:45 |
| Juventus vs. Nantes | Feb 16 | 20:00 / 15:00 |
| Sporting CP vs. Midtjylland | Feb 16 | 20:00 / 15:00 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Stade Rennes | Feb 16 | 17:45 / 12:45 |
| Ajax vs. Union Berlin | Feb 16 | 17:45 / 12:45 |
| Bayer Leverkusen vs. AS Monaco | Feb 16 | 20:00 / 15:00 |
| Sevilla vs. PSV Eindhoven | Feb 16 | 20:00 / 15:00 |
| RB Salzburg vs. AS Roma | Feb 16 | 17:45 / 12:45 |
Europa League knockout playoffs (2nd Leg)
| Match | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United vs. Barcelona | Feb 16 | 20:00 / 15:00 |
| Nantes vs. Juventus | Feb 16 | 17:45 / 12:45 |
| Midtjylland vs. Sporting CP | Feb 16 | 17:45 / 12:45 |
| Stade Rennes vs. Shakhtar Donetsk | Feb 16 | 20:00 / 15:00 |
| Union Berlin vs. Ajax | Feb 16 | 20:00 / 15:00 |
| AS Monaco vs. Bayer Leverkusen | Feb 16 | 17:45 / 12:45 |
| PSV Eindhoven vs. Sevilla | Feb 16 | 17:45 / 12:45 |
| AS Roma vs. RB Salzburg | Feb 16 | 20:00 / 15:00 |
Teams qualifying from Europa League group stage
First-place finishers earned a bye to the Round of 16, while second-place finishers must take part in the playoff round.
| Europa LeagueGroup | 1st Place(Group Winners) | 2nd Place(Group Runners-up) |
|---|---|---|
| A | Arsenal (ENG) | PSV (NED) |
| B | Fenerbahce (TUR) | Rennes (FRA) |
| C | Real Betis (SPA) | AS Roma (ITA) |
| D | Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) | Union Berlin (GER) |
| E | Real Sociedad (SPA) | Manchester United (ENG) |
| F | Feyenoord (NED) | Midtjylland (DEN) |
| G | SC Freiburg (GER) | Nantes (FRA) |
| H | Ferencvaros (HUN) | AS Monaco (FRA) |
