Route to UEFA Europa League final: Manchester United on course for Jose Mourinho reunion, Tottenham could face Ajax

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Manchester United could reunite with former UEFA Europa League-winning manager Jose Mourinho on their route to the final of this year's competition, as the knockout stage took shape with the last-16 draw on Friday. The 'Road to Bilbao' is also laid out for Tottenham Hotspur, who are hopeful of ending their trophy drought, while Rangers also learnt their fate in UEFA's secondary club competition.

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Could we see an epic reunion between Manchester United and Jose Mourinho, in the competition he won with The Red Devils eight years ago?

The UEFA Europa League last 16 draw laid out the roadmap for all the remaining sides' route to the final in Bilbao, and in typical European style, it threw up some intriguing clashes across the board.

Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers were among the teams in the pots, alongside Mourinho's Fenerbahce, who emphatically ousted Anderlecht in the play-offs after squeezing into 24th place in the preceding league phase.

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United look to claim their first trophy since the arrival of Ruben Amorim as manager, and the competition offers some retribution for a wretched 2024/25 campaign, which currently sees them planted 15th in the Premier League table.

Spurs, meanwhile, are themselves looking to end a trophy drought, which extends back to 2008, and pick up silverware under Ange Postecoglou, which would relieve heaps of pressure on his reign amid a similarly tough domestic season.

How does the 'Road to Bilbao' pan out for the biggest sides remaining in the Europa League?

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Man Utd on course for Mourinho reunion

Amorim's side have been drawn against Real Sociedad in the Europa League last 16, after the Spanish outfit ousted Midtjylland with a convincing 7-3 aggregate victory in the play-offs.

La Real have almost reflected their knockout counterparts with a poor domestic campaign, and United will look to take advantage, as victory would set up a quarter-final with either FCSB or Lyon.

Amorim's side successfully navigated their way past the Romanians with a 2-0 victory in January, though Lyon could prove a staunch challenge having finished just three points below them in the league phase top eight.

The semi-final could throw up a particularly tasty encounter, though - should United make it that far.

On the other half of United's orange-sided draw, Mourinho's Fenerbahce face Rangers, while Roma take on Athletic Club.

That means Mourinho could face an Old Trafford return in the semi-final, over six years since his departure from the club with which he secured European silverware.

But the tests ahead of his Turkish side cannot be underestimated, with a potential return to another one of his former clubs - Roma - also in store before the last four.

Manchester United's path to final

Last 16: Real Sociedad
Quarter-finals: Lyon or FCSB
Semi-finals: Fenerbahce, Rangers, Roma or Athletic Club

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Spurs could face rematch of UCL epic

Tottenham will be in familiar territory as they face AZ Alkmaar in the last 16, after already defeating their Dutch counterparts 1-0 in their league phase campaign.

A solitary Richarlison goal was enough to seal the three points which ultimately helped Postecoglou's side seal an automatic knockout spot, and they will face the Eredivisie side again, across two legs, in their bid to advance along their own 'Road to Bilbao'.

And a particularly intriguing quarter-final awaits, should Spurs make it past the last 16.

Postecoglou's side would face either 2022 champions Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax for a spot in the semi-final - and a tie against the latter would rehash certain memories of their unforgettable UEFA Champions League semi-final meeting in 2019.

The Dutch side raced into a 3-0 aggregate lead with Spurs - then under Mauricio Pochettino - seemingly heading out of the competition.

But a stunning fightback, led by Lucas Moura's hat-trick, saw the Premier League side roar back and win it, via away goals, in the sixth minute of stoppage-time to set up a final with Liverpool.

Spurs cannot face another British side until the final, and could meet league phase frontrunners Lazio in the semi-final - should both sides make it.

Tottenham's path to final

Last 16: AZ Alkmaar
Quarter-finals: Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt
Semi-finals: Lazio, Viktoria Plzen, Olympiacos or Bodo/Gilmt

Rangers land tough draw

As the old adage goes, you have to beat the best to be the best. But the Scottish giants would have hoped for a more favourable run in their knockout campaign after landing a tough road to the final.

They will first take on Mourinho's Fenerbahce, in two legs which promise to host raucous atmospheres in front of the two clubs' renowned, vociferous fanbases.

But should Philippe Clement's side get past the Turkish club, they face a tricky quarter-final against either Athletic Club or Roma.

Highlights: Joyous Rangers sneak into top eight after nervy Ibrox victory

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The Serie A side have enjoyed an upturn in results following the return of Claudio Ranieri as manager, and they edged past Porto for a place in the last 16.

Meanwhile, Athletic Club wound up second in the league phase table, and stand as one of the favourites to lift the trophy in their hometown of Bilbao come May 21.

Rangers could end up facing a rematch with United if both teams make it to the semi-final of the competition.

Amorim's side triumphed 2-1, thanks to a Bruno Fernandes stoppage-time winner, when the sides met in January.

Rangers' path to final

Last 16: Fenerbahce
Quarter-finals: Roma or Athletic Club
Semi-finals: Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Lyon or FCSB

UEFA Europa League last 16 draw

The draw is split into two halves of a bracket - silver and orange - which determines each team's route to the final.

Silver:

Bodo/Glimt v Olympiacos
Viktoria Plzen v Lazio

(winners of the above ties will face off in quarter-finals)

AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham
Ajax v Frankfurt

(winners of the above ties will face off in quarter-finals)

Orange:

Fenerbahce v Rangers
Roma v Athletic Club

(winners of the above ties will face off in quarter-finals)

FCSB v Lyon
Real Sociedad v Manchester United

(winners of the above ties will face off in quarter-finals)

Ties take place on March 6 and 13.

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Watch the UEFA Europa League round of 16 live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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