All of Manchester United's Possible Opponents After Failing to Win Their Europa League Group

• Manchester United will have to get past one of the Champions League’s third-placed teams in the Europa League playoffs
• The Red Devils narrowly missed out on the chance to top their group despite a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad on Thursday, November 3
• Sociedad emerged top of the group on goal difference after accruing the same number of points and
• The draw for the knockout round will take place on Monday, November 7

Manchester United have it all to do if they are to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League.

The Red Devils face a Europa play-off, despite beating Real Sociedad 1-0 in Spain in their final group game.

They needed to win the game by at least two goals in Spain, and there were hints that things would go their way after taking the lead in the first half through Alejandro Garnacho.

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Garnacho, a Madrid-born youngster, ran onto Cristiano Ronaldo through ball to slot home the opener to as United went on looking for the second and more decisive goal.

Ronaldo should have put his side 2-0 up but saw his lobbed effort hit the roof of the net while on the other end, David De Gea kept his side’s hopes alive with some fine goalkeeping.

In the end, despite Erik Ten Hag resorting to unothordox methods including deploying Harry Maguire up front, United could not find the decisive second goal as Real Sociedad held on.

Both sides finished the group with 15 points, but Sociedad advanced as group winners due to a superior goal difference.

What it means for United

A couple of weeks ago, Jose Mourinho admitted it was going to be difficult to compete in the Europa League when the so-called ‘failed sharks’ of the Champions League.

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This will prove particularly true for Manchester United, who now face the prospect of clashing with some heavyweights who had poor fortunes in Europe’s elite.

In the play offs, United could face either of the following sides: Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Salzburg, Shaktar Donetsk, Sevilla or Juventus.

All these teams finished third in their respective Champions League groups, thus sending them to the Europa League.