As Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag sets his sights on the Europa League, the team is gearing up for the group stage draw. With the League Cup and FA Cup already in his collection, Ten Hag aims to add the Europa League to his list of achievements this season.
The draw for the Swiss-style group stage will take place today at 12 noon UK time. UEFA has outlined the composition of the pots for the draw, which will see United face one team from each pot at home and one away, totaling eight group stage matches against different opponents.
Pot One: United could be drawn to play at home and away against one of the following teams: AS Roma, FC Porto, Ajax, Lazio, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, or Slavia Prague. Tottenham Hotspur is also in Pot One but cannot be drawn against United due to home country restrictions.
Pot Two: The teams United might face include Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar, Braga, Olympiacos, Lyon, PAOK, Fenerbahce, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Ferencvaros.
Pot Three: Potential opponents from this pot are Qarabag, Galatasaray, Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt, Union SG, Dinamo Kyiv, Ludogorets, Midtjylland, and Malmo.
Pot Four: United could be matched against Athletic Club, Hoffenheim, OGC Nice, Anderlecht, Twente, Besiktas, FCSB, FK Rigas, or Elfsborg.
Notable possible matchups include Erik ten Hag’s former club Ajax, Chris Smalling’s AS Roma, José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, and Real Sociedad, who have been a challenging team for United in the past. A draw against OGC Nice, another club linked with Ineos, would also be intriguing.
UEFA will conduct the draw using a combination of manual and automated processes. The group stage matchdays are scheduled as follows: September 25/26, October 3, October 24, November 7, November 28, December 12, January 23, and January 30. Kick-off times will be either 17:45 or 20:00 UK time.
As the draw approaches, fans eagerly await to see which teams Manchester United will face in the upcoming Europa League campaign.The Europa League group stage draw promises an exciting campaign for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, as they aim to add another European trophy to their cabinet. The Swiss-style group stage format introduces a unique challenge, with United set to face a variety of opponents from each pot in both home and away fixtures. The club’s potential opponents feature notable names and intriguing narratives.
**Pot One** offers the possibility of high-profile clashes with AS Roma, managed by former United defender Chris Smalling, or Ajax, Ten Hag’s former club where he made his managerial mark. The presence of FC Porto, Lazio, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Slavia Prague adds further intrigue, although United will avoid Tottenham Hotspur due to country restrictions.
**Pot Two** introduces the potential for a matchup with Fenerbahce, now managed by former United manager José Mourinho, a storyline that would capture the imagination of fans. Other possible opponents like Real Sociedad, who have proven to be tough adversaries in recent encounters, and other formidable clubs like Olympiacos, Lyon, AZ Alkmaar, Braga, PAOK, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Ferencvaros, present a variety of styles and challenges.
**Pot Three** includes teams like Galatasaray and Dinamo Kyiv, who both bring passionate fan bases and challenging away atmospheres. Clubs like Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt, and Union SG could be dark horses, while Midtjylland, Ludogorets, Qarabag, and Malmo have a history of surprising larger clubs.
**Pot Four** offers potentially tricky ties against Athletic Club or OGC Nice, the latter being of particular interest given their connections with INEOS, the company linked with Manchester United’s new owners. Other possible opponents such as Hoffenheim, Anderlecht, Twente, Besiktas, and FCSB, as well as lesser-known clubs like FK Rigas and Elfsborg, could provide unpredictable challenges.
With the group stage matchdays set from September through January, United’s Europa League journey will span several months, giving Erik ten Hag plenty of time to strategize against a variety of European playing styles. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the draw to see who United will face, hoping for a mix of compelling matchups that could pave the way for another memorable European campaign.The Europa League group stage draw promises an exciting campaign for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, as they aim to add another European trophy to their cabinet. The Swiss-style group stage format introduces a unique challenge, with United set to face a variety of opponents from each pot in both home and away fixtures. The club’s potential opponents feature notable names and intriguing narratives.
**Pot One** offers the possibility of high-profile clashes with AS Roma, managed by former United defender Chris Smalling, or Ajax, Ten Hag’s former club where he made his managerial mark. The presence of FC Porto, Lazio, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Slavia Prague adds further intrigue, although United will avoid Tottenham Hotspur due to country restrictions.
**Pot Two** introduces the potential for a matchup with Fenerbahce, now managed by former United manager José Mourinho, a storyline that would capture the imagination of fans. Other possible opponents like Real Sociedad, who have proven to be tough adversaries in recent encounters, and other formidable clubs like Olympiacos, Lyon, AZ Alkmaar, Braga, PAOK, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Ferencvaros, present a variety of styles and challenges.
**Pot Three** includes teams like Galatasaray and Dinamo Kyiv, who both bring passionate fan bases and challenging away atmospheres. Clubs like Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt, and Union SG could be dark horses, while Midtjylland, Ludogorets, Qarabag, and Malmo have a history of surprising larger clubs.
**Pot Four** offers potentially tricky ties against Athletic Club or OGC Nice, the latter being of particular interest given their connections with INEOS, the company linked with Manchester United’s new owners. Other possible opponents such as Hoffenheim, Anderlecht, Twente, Besiktas, and FCSB, as well as lesser-known clubs like FK Rigas and Elfsborg, could provide unpredictable challenges.
With the group stage matchdays set from September through January, United’s Europa League journey will span several months, giving Erik ten Hag plenty of time to strategize against a variety of European playing styles. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the draw to see who United will face, hoping for a mix of compelling matchups that could pave the way for another memorable European campaign.The Europa League group stage draw promises an exciting campaign for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, as they aim to add another European trophy to their cabinet. The Swiss-style group stage format introduces a unique challenge, with United set to face a variety of opponents from each pot in both home and away fixtures. The club’s potential opponents feature notable names and intriguing narratives.
**Pot One** offers the possibility of high-profile clashes with AS Roma, managed by former United defender Chris Smalling, or Ajax, Ten Hag’s former club where he made his managerial mark. The presence of FC Porto, Lazio, Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Slavia Prague adds further intrigue, although United will avoid Tottenham Hotspur due to country restrictions.
**Pot Two** introduces the potential for a matchup with Fenerbahce, now managed by former United manager José Mourinho, a storyline that would capture the imagination of fans. Other possible opponents like Real Sociedad, who have proven to be tough adversaries in recent encounters, and other formidable clubs like Olympiacos, Lyon, AZ Alkmaar, Braga, PAOK, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Ferencvaros, present a variety of styles and challenges.
**Pot Three** includes teams like Galatasaray and Dinamo Kyiv, who both bring passionate fan bases and challenging away atmospheres. Clubs like Viktoria Plzen, Bodo/Glimt, and Union SG could be dark horses, while Midtjylland, Ludogorets, Qarabag, and Malmo have a history of surprising larger clubs.
**Pot Four** offers potentially tricky ties against Athletic Club or OGC Nice, the latter being of particular interest given their connections with INEOS, the company linked with Manchester United’s new owners. Other possible opponents such as Hoffenheim, Anderlecht, Twente, Besiktas, and FCSB, as well as lesser-known clubs like FK Rigas and Elfsborg, could provide unpredictable challenges.
With the group stage matchdays set from September through January, United’s Europa League journey will span several months, giving Erik ten Hag plenty of time to strategize against a variety of European playing styles. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the draw to see who United will face, hoping for a mix of compelling matchups that could pave the way for another memorable European campaign.
