Manchester United to face either AZ Alkmaar or Galatasaray in the Europa League Round of 16 | OneFootball

Manchester United secured their place in the last 16 of the Europa League last night by beating Bucharest outfit FCSB 2-0 in what was a rare routine victory.

The victory left United third in the overall table, which as we reported yesterday meant that their round of 16 opponents would be one of four teams, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or FC Midtjylland.

Now that the draw for the playoffs has been completed, that four has been narrowed down to two possibilities, AZ or Gala.

The Red Devils’ record against the Turkish side is dead level. They have played each other eight times, with each team winning twice, and four draws. Their most recent encounter was last season, when they met in the group stages of the Champions League. United lost the home tie 2-3 before drawing the away game 3-3.

Dutch side AZ have only faced United twice, home and away in the 2019 Europa League. The leg in Holland was a dull 0-0 stalemate, but the Red Devils romped home 4-0 at Old Trafford with goals from Ashley Young, Juan Mata and a brace from Mason Greenwood.

United will be relieved to have avoided Real Sociedad but the Turkish giants would be a particularly tricky opponent at this stage of the tournament.

1993 will always be remembered as the “Welcome to Hell” encounter in Turkey. The Champions League match at Old Trafford had been drawn 1-1 and Gala fans turned up in their droves at Istanbul airport to intimidate United on their arrival for the return leg.

“Back then, members of the media would share a charter plane with the United players,” reporter Jim White of The Telegraph says. “I was there, witness to one of the most extraordinary episodes in sporting history.”

“There several hundred locals had gathered, many pressing signs against the glass barrier scribbled on to pieces of cardboard. All of them were in English. None of them were friendly.

“’Welcome Mr Cantona. Afterwards you say goodbye Mrs Cantona,’ was an oddly cryptic threat. Another – ‘You call us barbarians, but we remember Heysel, Hillsborough’ – was more to the point. But it was the one held up by a bloke that came to define the occasion.

“‘Welcome to Hell,’ it read.”

Sir Alex Ferguson put on a brave face at the presser, saying:

“That was a riot was it, lads? Youse lot have obviously never been to a Glasgow wedding.”

The two legged tie between United and the winners of the AZ – Gala fixture will take place on the 6th and 13th March, with the Old Trafford leg to be played second.

Feature image Vasili Mihai-Antonio via Getty Images

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