Europa League semi-final draw - as it happened: Manchester United face Celta Vigo, Lyon to take on Ajax

A recap of the Europa League semi-final draw from Nyon

Manchester United will will discover on Friday who they will face in the Europa League semi-final draw.

Jose Mourinho's side beat Anderlecht 2-1 in Thursday's second leg at Old Trafford, clinching a 3-2 aggregate victory and book their spot in the last four..

Lyon, Ajax and Celta Vigo join them in the semi-finals, having beated their respective opponents - Besiktas, Genk and Schalke 04 - retain hopes of reaching the final next month.

With a place in next season's Champions League the reward for winning the Europa League, United are determined to win Europe's second-tier competition given they are currently in a fight with Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal to finish in the top four.

Follow the draw live below:

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When is the draw?

The draw takes place in Nyon on Friday 21 April, following the completion of the quarter final ties on Thursday.

What time is the draw?

Proceedings will begin at 12.00pm BST, with the draw following shortly after.

Where can I watch it?

It will be shown live on BT Sport 2.

If, however, you cannot watch the draw, you can bookmark this article which will turn into The Independent’s live blog.

How does it work?

As per usual at this stage of the competition, the draw is unseeded and there will be no ‘country protection’, meaning teams from the same domestic league can be drawn against each other.

The team drawn first will play the first leg at home, with those drawn second away.

Mourinho's United will go into the semi-final draw as favourites (Getty)

Who's in the draw?

Manchester United, Lyon, Celta Vigo and Ajax go into the draw and can all face each other.

When will the Europa League semi-finals take place?

This year’s semi-final first legs will be played on 4 May, with the return legs played the following week on 11 May.

[21 April 2017 10:26 · Samuel Lovett]

Good morning and welcome to the Europa League semi-final live draw. Manchester United are England's last representatives in Europe and are just three wins away from securing a spot in the Champions League. Easier said than done, though, and if their performance last night is anything to go by then nothing is guaranteed.

The last four:

• Manchester United 
• Lyon 
• Celta Vigo
• Ajax 

[21 April 2017 10:39 · Samuel Lovett]

United certainly made hard work of their quarter-final tie last night, with the visitors taking it to extra-time as they forced Mourinho's men to the very edge. In the end, it fell to man-of-the-moment Marcus Rashford who struck early on in the second half of extra-time to bring a sigh of relief to Old Trafford and book United's place in the last four. 

Read more about it below:

[21 April 2017 10:51 · Samuel Lovett]

There was plenty to take from the game, too. Here's five things we learned:

[21 April 2017 10:57 · Samuel Lovett]

United may have squeezed past their Belgian opponents but it came at a cost. Both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo hobbled off with injuries to further heighten the club's mounting injury crisis.

Asked about the condition of the pair, Mourinho said: “I want to wait, but my feeling is not good for both.

“I want to wait and try to be optimistic, but I am not.”

United have at least nine games remaining this season, with seven Premier League fixtures added to by the Europa League semi-final two-legged affair and a possible final appearance increasing that number to 10, all within the next five weeks.

But with Ibrahimovic yet to decide his future beyond the end of the season – a one-year contract extension with United is yet to be completed – he may have played his last game for the Premier League club if the injury does prove serious.

[21 April 2017 11:01 · Samuel Lovett]

The Champions League draw is about to get under way. Follow it live below: 

[21 April 2017 11:15 · Samuel Lovett]

Thursday night's quarter-final round-up:

French side Lyon secured their place in the last-four in dramatic circumstances, winning a 7-6 sudden-death penalty shootout victory at Besiktas.

Talisca scored the opening goal of a pulsating match after 27 minutes before Alexandre Lacazette ensured Lyon, 2-1 up from the first leg, were back in charge of the tie with his fine finish moments later.

But Talisca added his second of the night shortly before the hour mark to take the game to extra time, and latterly penalties, only for Lyon to prevail after captain Maxime Gonalons converted the decisive spot-kick.

Read all about it here:

[21 April 2017 11:19 · Samuel Lovett]

Lyon profile:

​

UEFA club ranking: 25

Entry: round of 32 (via UCL group stage)

Route to semis: 11-2 AZ, 5-4 Roma, 3-3 Beşiktaş (aet, won 7-6 on pens)

UCUP/UEL campaigns: 13

UCUP/UEL best: semi-finals (2016/17)

Semi-final record: N/A

Domestic titles: 7

European titles: N/A

Last season: 2nd in Ligue 1

This season: 4th in Ligue 1

Lyon celebrate their thrilling victory 

[21 April 2017 11:24 · Samuel Lovett]

Ajax profile:

UEFA club ranking: 28

Entry: group stage (after losing in UCL PO)

Route to semis: Group G winners, 1-0 Legia, 3-2 København, 4-3 Schalke (aet)

UCUP/UEL campaigns: 25

UCUP/UEL best: winners (1991/92)

Semi-final record: W1 L0

Domestic titles: 33

European titles: 4 European Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Last season: 2nd in Dutch Eredivisie

This season: 2nd in Dutch Eredivisie

Schalke vs Ajax 

[21 April 2017 11:30 · Samuel Lovett]

Celta Vigo profile:

UEFA club ranking: 57

Entry: group stage

Route to semis: Group G runners-up, 2-1 Shakhtar, 4-1 Krasnodar, 4-3 Genk

UCUP/UEL campaigns: 8

UCUP/UEL best: semi-finals (2016/17)

Semi-final record: N/A

Domestic titles: 0

European titles: N/A

Last season: 6th in Spanish Liga

This season: 10th in Spanish Liga

Celta Vigo celebrate after booking their place in the last four 

[21 April 2017 11:45 · Samuel Lovett]

Champions League semi-final draw:

• Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
• Juventus vs Monaco