Europa Conference League draw LIVE: West Ham United discover last-16 opponents

West Ham will also find out who they face in the Europa Conference League knockout rounds

'Magnificent Performance' says Ten Hag after Utd beat Barca 2-1 in 2nd leg

The draw for the Europa League last-16 takes place this morning as the group stage winners are paired against the play-off winners in the knockout rounds.

Arsenal were among the eight clubs to top their respective Europa League group so are seeded for the draw which takes place at 11am.

Manchester United are also through after defeating Barcelona in the two-legged play-off. Erik ten Hag’s men played out a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp in the opening leg before coming from behind to win 2-1 at Old Trafford last night. Fred cancelled out Robert Lewandowski’s penalty before Antony came off the bench to send the Red Devils into the last-16.

As United came through the play-offs they are unseeded for this draw meaning they will face one of the group winners – except Arsenal who are from the same country – in the next stage of the competition.

Following the Europa League draw will be the draw for the Europa Conference League last-16. West Ham are involved in that one after finishing top of their group and despite struggles in the Premier League this year the Hammers have been solid competitors in Europe.

Follow along for the Europa League and Europa Conference League last-16 draws:

Europa League and Europa Conference League draws

• The draws for the Europa League and the Europa Conference League last-16 took place this morning
• Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the next Europa League round
• Manchester United will take on Real Betis in the Europa League last-16
• West Ham United were drawn against AEK Larnaca in their Europa Conference League tie

[24 February 2023 10:25 · Michael Jones]

‘Barcelona scalp proves Manchester United can beat anyone’ says Ten Hag

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says his side’s thrilling comeback victory over Barcelona in the Europa League shows they can beat anyone.

United looked to be heading out of Europe to Spanish opposition again when Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty put Barca 3-2 up on aggregate and in control at Old Trafford.

But a fine revival saw Fred equalise after only 82 seconds of the second half before half-time substitute Antony sent home fans wild with a 73rd-minute strike to seal a 2-1 win on the night and a 4-3 victory on aggregate.

Victory, which sends United through to the last 16, sees them still competing on all four fronts and is the perfect tonic ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.

[24 February 2023 10:21 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd defeat Barcelona to reach Europa League last-16

Manchester United’s win was the first time Barcelona have lost a game in which they led at half-time since April 2021. They had been unbeaten in 37 successive matches in which they had led at the break.

[24 February 2023 10:17 · Michael Jones]

Ten Hag reacts to United victory

Last night Manchester United completed a comeback victory against Barcelona at Old Trafford to knock the La Liga leaders out of the Europa League and progress 4-3 on aggregate.

Manager Erik ten Hag praised his team’s effort after the game saying: “It was a magnificent night against a team who are the leaders of La Liga, I want to take this result with us in building belief.

“I know what Antony can do. He is brave and fearless. What he brought in the second half was what we needed. He dribbled, he scored. He will go for it and when he gets the opportunity. He will strike.

“Fred has an important role. He had to first stop Frenkie de Jong playing like a mosquito around him and behind him. He did it magnificently in the first leg as well and tonight he scored a goal. It was brilliant.”

[24 February 2023 10:13 · Michael Jones]

Antony seizes chance as Erik ten Hag recaptures Manchester United’s spirit

If nothing else, Wout Weghorst can always say he turned a game against Barcelona. Admittedly, he turned it by going off rather than by anything he did on the pitch. Manchester United, outclassed with the giant Dutchman on the pitch, were galvanised and equalised two minutes after his departure. His replacement, Antony, scored the goal to beat Barcelona.

It was not quite all down to Weghorst. United already had ample evidence of Erik ten Hag’s gifts as a game-changer before a reshuffle and a replacement proved catalytic. After all, they have the most goals from substitutes in the Premier League this season. They may have had less proof of Antony’s ability to exert such an impact.

After early goals against Arsenal and Manchester City, there was a growing suspicion that the £86m man did not even rank in their strongest side. Bruno Fernandes had done such a compelling impression of a right winger of late that he looked Ten Hag’s best option. The jury may remain out on Antony: the flair player on the right the United fans sang about was George Best, not him.

[24 February 2023 10:09 · Michael Jones]

Thrilling Manchester United burst through Barcelona in vintage comeback

A straight line to the Europa League last-16, in effect, and in nature. That’s the only way to describe a pulsating Manchester United performance, where the devastating directness of their running brought Barcelona a volley of problems they couldn’t handle as well as, ultimately, elimination. Erik ten Hag might still say this 2-1 victory wasn’t his ideal football, but it was impressively thrilling, all the more so for how it involved a vintage European comeback. The most striking element of this game, beyond the contrasting passiveness of Barcelona, was just how fast United are.

Racing ahead on this occasion was substitute Antony, who was fast enough to bring two comebacks – one for his team, one for himself. The Brazilian enjoyed a moment he has waited long enough for, scoring a brilliant volley to add to Fred’s equaliser.

Barcelona by that point couldn’t cope. This hasn’t been what Xavi has got used to in La Liga. This might have to be what everyone else gets used to against Ten Hag’s United. You’re going to have to be quick, the team retaining such an impressive focus even as the takeover process – with all of its many complicated questions – looks so slow.

[24 February 2023 10:04 · Michael Jones]

Who are the unseeded knockout round play-off winners?

Eight teams had to get through a knockout play-off round to reach this stage. The eight Europa League group runners up took on eight teams who dropped out of the Champions League at the group stage.

Here are the sides that made it through the play-offs:

Union Berlin (GER)

Manchester United (ENG)

Juventus (ITA)

Bayer Leverkusen (GER)

Roma (ITA)

Sevilla (ESP)

Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

Sporting CP (POR)

[24 February 2023 10:00 · Michael Jones]

Who are the seeded group stage winners?

Eight teams topped the Europa League group stages and went straight through to the last-16. They are:

Arsenal (ENG)

Betis (ESP)

Fenerbahçe (TUR)

Ferencváros (HUN)

Feyenoord (NED)

Freiburg (GER)

Real Sociedad (ESP)

Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)

Theses sides will have home advantage in the second leg of the round of 16 matches.

[24 February 2023 09:56 · Michael Jones]

How does it work?

The eight Europa League group-stage winners are seeded, and the eight play-off winners (matches between the group-stage runners-up and the relegated Champions League sides) are unseeded.

The seeded club will have home advantage in the second leg but teams cannot be drawn against another side from the domestic leagues.

[24 February 2023 09:52 · Michael Jones]

When is the Europa League last-16 draw?

The draw takes place in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday 24 February, at 11am GMT.

The Europa League group winners will be paired with one of the teams who successfully made it through the play-off round.

[24 February 2023 09:21 · Michael Jones]

Europa League draw

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live blog covering the two European knockout round draws taking place today. First up at 11am GMT is the draw for the Europa League round of 16.

The British interest here lies with Arsenal and Manchester United. The Gunners sailed straight through to the last-16 having won five of their six group games - the only blip in that run being a 2-0 defeat to PSV Eindhoven on matchday five.

Manchester United meanwhile had to get through a two-legged play-off. They were drawn against Barcelona who dropped out of the Champions League. The first leg was played at the Nou Camp and after shipping the opening goal Erik ten Hag’s men fought back to lead 2-1 only for Raphinha to strike late and end the game in a draw.

The tie concluded last night at Old Trafford with Barcelona once again taking the lead through a Robert Lewandowski penalty before Brazilian duo Fred and Antony both scored to send United through 4-3 on aggregate.

As they came through the play-offs the Red Devils are unseeded so will face one of the Europa League group winners in the next round except Arsenal as teams cannot face another side from the same domestic league at this stage.

The Europa Conference League draw then follows. West Ham United will be hoping for a favourable opponent after making it through to the last-16. David Moyes’ men have struggled in the Premier League this season but they’re going on a fine European adventure and will hope to continue it.