Barcelona and Juventus are two of Manchester United's eight potential opponents for their Europa League play-off next year.
Despite recording a 1-0 win away to Real Sociedad on Thursday - and as consequently failing to win their group - the Red Devils will now be forced play two extra fixtures in February, with a place in the last 16 of the Europa League up for grabs. But rather than face another side who also finished second at the group stage, the eight teams who were demoted from the Champions League will enter the competition and scrap it out against them.
Among those are Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Italian giants Juventus, who each slumped to a third-place finish in Europe's elite competition. United can not only be drawn against the pair of European behemoths, though, as Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, Red Bull Salzburg, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sporting Lisbon also make their way down from the Champions League.
On Thursday, Erik ten Hag's side looked to be well on their way to getting what they needed against Real Sociedad when academy prodigy Alejandro Garnacho put the Red Devils in front after only 17 minutes. But United had to win by two goals, and even centre-back Harry Maguire being played as a makeshift striker in the dying embers couldn't change their fortunes in San Sebastian.
Dogged defending from the hosts ensured that they topped Group E, as Moldovan minnows FC Sheriff took third place and Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia finished rock bottom. Real Sociedad's 1-0 win at Old Trafford on matchday two proved decisive, with a Brais Mendez penalty doing enough for Imanol Alguacil's men on the night of Queen Elizabeth II's death.
It was a resulted the Red Devils would regret, having began their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 victory in Moldova thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo. Back-to-backs narrow wins against Omonia followed, but Real Sociedad's dominance at the summit was maintained thanks to their good form.
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The draw for the play-off round - which was introduced last season to place the round of 32 - will take place at 12pm UK time on Monday, November 7 at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The first legs are scheduled to played on Thursday, February 16, with the second legs scheduled for a week later on February 23.
Ten Hag's men could be involved in some interesting storylines come February, such as facing their manager's former club, Ajax. Meanwhile, Ronaldo could return to Lisbon for a clash with boyhood club Sporting - that's if he stays at Old Trafford beyond the January transfer window.
