Tottenham will find out their Europa League round of 16 opponents on Friday afternoon as well as what lies next if they can progress beyond that stage.
Ange Postecoglou’s side finished fourth and in the top eight in the league phase which means they qualified automatically for the round of 16, where they will be joined this week by the eight winners of the two-legged knockout phase play-offs. From the round of 16 onwards, the tournament progresses within brackets that have been determined by the original league positions.
As UEFA state: “For example, teams that finished first and second in the league phase will face the winners of the knockout phase play-off ties involving the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th-placed teams in the round of 16; teams that finish third or fourth (Tottenham) will be drawn against the winners of the knockout phase play-off ties involving the 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th-placed teams and so on.”
That all means that Tottenham and Manchester United, who finished third, will face one each of Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar, Real Sociedad or Midtlylland in the last 16. Currently AZ and Sociedad lead Galatasaray and Midtlylland going into Thursday night’s second legs and look the likelier potential opponents.
The first leg of the round of 16 ties will be played on March 6, with the return fixture a week later. Due to their seeding, Spurs and United will play at home in the second leg on March 13.
The draws will also be made for the quarter-finals (April 10 and 17) and semi-finals (May 1 and 8) so the teams involved will know what lies ahead for them if they can triumph in the round of 16, all the way until the final in Bilbao on May 21.
The way the pairing has worked and the brackets of each side of the draw means that Spurs and United cannot meet each other until the final of the competition if both English teams make it that far.
The draw takes place at midday, directly after the Champions League draw at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. It will be shown live on TNT Sports 1.
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