UEFA Europa Conference League draw LIVE! Knockout round play-off ties revealed after Man United get Barcelona

Europa League draw LIVE!

A blockbuster showdown between Barcelona and Manchester United headlined the Europa League knockout round play-off draw on Monday. The two giants of European football will go head to head in the New Year over two legs for the right to join the likes of Arsenal in the last-16 of the continent’s secondary club competition.

Barcelona dropped into the Europa League for the second successive season in dismal fashion after finishing third behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in a tough Champions League Group D. Meanwhile, United failed to seal a bye through to the round of 16 despite winning their final group game against Real Sociedad, finishing behind the Spaniards as runners-up in Group E courtesy of an inferior goal difference.

Elsewhere, Juventus will face Nantes while Ajax have been drawn against Union Berlin. Jose Mourinho’s Roma side go up against Salzburg for a place in the Europa League last-16.

Europa League play-off draw highlights

• Manchester United to face Barcelona

• Europa League draw in full

• When will matches be played?

• Europa Conference League draw in full

Europa Conference League draw in full

13:20 , Matt Verri

Qarabag vs Gent

Trabzonspor vs Basel

Lazio vs Cluj

Bodo/Glimt vs Lech Poznan

SC Braga vs Fiorentina

AEK Larnaca vs Dnipro

Sheriff Tiraspol vs Partizan

Ludogorets vs Anderlecht

Ludogorets vs Anderlecht

13:18 , Matt Verri

Sheriff vs Partizan

13:18 , Matt Verri

AEK Larnaca vs Dnipro-1

13:17 , Matt Verri

Braga vs Fiorentina

13:16 , Matt Verri

Bodo/Glimt vs Lech Poznan

13:15 , Matt Verri

Lazio vs Cluj

13:14 , Matt Verri

Trabzonspor vs Basel

13:13 , Matt Verri

Qarabag vs Gent

13:12 , Matt Verri

13:08 , Matt Verri

Vladimir Smicer is the man helping with the draw, as a result of the final of this year’s tournament taking place in Prague next summer.

West Ham fans will be hoping to be there in numbers...

13:05 , Matt Verri

We’re going to break the world record for montages at this rate.

The look at the 16 teams involved this afternoon is over - Giorgio Marchetti is once again on stage and looking to get things moving.

Up and running!

13:00 , Matt Verri

For the final time today, we had back to UEFA headquarters in Nyon for a draw.

Time to find out the latest ties for the Europa Conference League!

He knows both clubs well

12:55 , Matt Verri

West Ham with bye through to last-16

12:53 , Matt Verri

Reminder that West Ham are not involved in this afternoon’s draw, as they won their group.

As a result they go straight through to the last-16, along with the other group winners, to face one of the eight teams that come through the knockout round play-offs.

Got it? Good.

Teams in Europa Conference League draw

12:45 , Matt Verri

Conference League runners-up: Basel, CFR Cluj, Gent, Dnipro-1, Partizan, Lech Poznan, Anderlecht and Fiorentina.

Europa League third-placed teams: Bodo/Glimt, AEK Larnaca, Ludogorets, Braga, Sheriff, Lazio, Qarabag FK and Trabzonspor.

Xavi: Barcelona have no luck

12:40 , Matt Verri

Xavi is currently giving a press conference and he’s been asked for his immediate reaction to the Europa League draw. He’s not delighted it would be fair to say.

“It is the most difficult opponent once again,” Xavi said. “But we will look forward to it.

“They are a historic side, they have grown a lot with the arrival of Ten Hag, they have great individual players.

“It’s the worst draw we could have got. Once again. No luck.”

More fun to come!

12:36 , Matt Verri

Two draws down, still one to go.

The Europa Conference League knockout round play-off draw - another catchy name - is coming up at 1pm GMT.

Don’t. Go. Anywhere.

Very different Barcelona side though...

12:29 , Matt Verri

Europa League knockout round play-off draw in full

12:22 , Matt Verri

Barcelona v Manchester United

Juventus v Nantes

Sporting Lisbon v Midtjylland

Shakhtar Donetsk v Rennes

Ajax v Union Berlin

Bayer Leverkusen v Monaco

Sevilla v PSV

FC Salzburg v Roma

Got what we wanted!

12:20 , Matt Verri

Barcelona vs Manchester United.

Absolutely huge clash, not sure either side will be too thrilled about it but for the neutrals it’s an ideal draw.

Salzburg vs Roma

12:18 , Matt Verri

Sevilla vs PSV

12:18 , Matt Verri

Bayer Leverkusen vs Monaco

12:17 , Matt Verri

Ajax vs Union Berlin

12:16 , Matt Verri

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes

12:15 , Matt Verri

Sporting vs Midtjylland

12:14 , Matt Verri

Juventus vs Nantes

12:13 , Matt Verri

Barcelona vs Manchester United

12:12 , Matt Verri

It’s happened!

12:09 , Matt Verri

Right, time to actually get this draw up and running. We’re all here for Man United vs Barcelona...

12:06 , Matt Verri

Draw is being explained in great detail, as ever.

The Europa League runners-up will face a third-placed Champions League side. You can’t play a team from the same country.

You’re up to date.

Reminder of the teams in draw...

12:02 , Matt Verri

Seeded: Manchester United, Midtjylland, Nantes, Monaco, PSV, Rennes, Roma, Union Berlin.

Unseeded: Ajax, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla, Sporting, Juventus, Salzburg, Shakhtar.

Here we go!

12:01 , Matt Verri

That Europa League anthem we all love is blaring out.

Can only mean one thing - it’s time for the knockout round play-off draw. Try and contain your excitement.

Almost time...

11:54 , Matt Verri

Draw will be getting underway in just over five minutes’ time.

The Champions League last-16 draw very much delivered, with a number of brilliant ties to look forward.

Let’s hope for the same here.

Pique won’t get Man United reunion

11:44 , Matt Verri

Man United will be very keen to stay away from Barcelona, even if the La Liga side are far from the force they once were.

Gerard Pique won’t be coming up against his former side whatever happens, after the Barcelona defender announced his retirement.

It was an emotional Nou Camp farewell over the weekend.

When will the matches be played?

11:36 , Matt Verri

The first legs will take place on February 16, 2023, with the return fixtures a week later on February 23.

The eight teams that win their ties will go through to the last 16, joined by Arsenal and the other Europa League group winners.

Allegri: It’s a beautiful competition

11:31 , Matt Verri

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has been trying to stay positive despite his side’s Champions League exit.

“We have to try to go to the Europa League, it’s a beautiful and important competition,” Allegri said.

“And it’s still Europe.”

Not sure he’s kidding anyone...

Champions League draw

11:24 , Alex Young

The Champions League last-16 draw has just taken place.

You can find out the full list of ties here in what is a blockbuster set of fixtures.

Ten Hag looking at the positives

11:05 , Alex Young

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says the two-legged Europa League play-off fixture in February can be an opportunity for his players.

"We definitely have two extra games to cover in this hard season," Ten Hag told United's club website. "We have a lot of games, that's clear, but also it's an opportunity for this squad to develop and to get into the process.

"Players like to play matches, rather than training, so, in that matter, it is also an advantage."

Looking at the positives for two extra games in an already jam-packed season.

10:48 , Alex Young

Ahead of the play-offs draw, here’s how the bookies are predicting the competition to pan out.

Europa League winner 22/23 winner odds (via Betfair).

• Arsenal: 4/1

• Barcelona: 9/2

• Man Utd: 5/1

• Juventus: 10/1

• Real Sociedad, Ajax: 14/1

• Betis, Sevilla: 16/1

Full look at the teams involved...

10:29 , Matt Verri

Xavi: We are forced to try and win

10:19 , Matt Verri

Xavi believes his Barcelona side are more than capable of going all the way in this season’s competition.

“There is still a very nice Europa League,” Xavi said after Barcelona’s Champions League exit was confirmed.

“Our goal is to reach the final and win it. I understand that they label us as favourites.

“We are forced to try to win the Europa League, but we saw last year that it is a very complicated competition. With the teams that there are this year, it looks very tough.”

Who could Man United face?

10:09 , Matt Verri

Manchester United will come up against one of those sides that finished third in their Champions League group.

They will want to avoid Barcelona, while an Erik ten Hag reunion with Ajax would also be a tricky task. Salzburg and Shakhtar would be two of the more favourable outcomes.

Possible opponents: Ajax, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla, Sporting, Juventus, Salzburg, Shakhtar.

How does it work?

10:03 , Matt Verri

Those dropping down from the Champions League will be unseeded for the draw and face a side that finished second in their Europa League group.

As ever, teams from the same country cannot be drawn against each other.

How to watch Europa League draw

09:59 , Matt Verri

TV channel: In the UK, the draw will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1.

Live stream: Uefa will show the draw via their YouTube channel while BT Sport subscribers can watch on the BT Sport website and app.

Live blog: You can follow it in full right here with us!

Good morning!

09:53 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the Europa League knockout round play-off draw. Catchy.

Manchester United are the only English side involved in the draw, after finishing runners-up to Real Sociedad in their group, and so they will face a side dropping down from the Champions League.

Barcelona, Juventus and Ajax are all possible options - not long until we find out. We’ll have all the build-up and then live coverage of the draw, starting at 12pm GMT.