Why Manchester United MUST finish top of their Europa League group… Ajax, Romelu Lukaku out for revenge with Inter and Salzburg with top target Erling Haaland have all dropped from Champions League
- Manchester United face AZ Alkmaar in their final Europa League group fixture
- A win or a draw will see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side finish top of Group L
- This would certainly be preferable as United would be seeded in last-32 draw
- They could face Ajax, Inter Milan or Red Bull Salzburg if they aren’t seeded
- Solskjaer should therefore not risk losing to Alkmaar with a weakened team
Having just recovered their poise in the Premier League and with qualification already assured, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be tempted to rest a few of his star names when Manchester United welcome AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night.
But with the Old Trafford fixture set to determine who finishes top of Europa League Group L, the United boss would be well advised not to play too many fringe players.
Only the teams that finish top in the 12 Europa League groups – plus four of the eight clubs who have dropped down from the Champions League – will be seeded in Monday’s last-32 draw.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should take no chances when Manchester United take on AZ Alkmaar in their final Europa League group stage game on Thursday night
The Alkmaar players train at Old Trafford on the eve of their match with Manchester United – they need a win to pinch top spot in Group L
A United win or a draw at Old Trafford on Thursday will see Solskjaer’s side top the group
Those who finish second in their groups – plus the other four ex-Champions League clubs with worse records – will not be seeded.
And when Solskjaer takes a glance at some of the top seeds already confirmed, he’ll be desperate to ensure United top their group by beating or drawing with Alkmaar.
Among the teams lying in wait should United not top their group are last season’s Champions League semi-finalists Ajax, who only missed out on progression by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday night.
Romelu Lukaku will have a point to prove to his former club United if they draw Inter Milan
Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez is currently on loan at Inter Milan from Manchester United
Ajax may have exited the Champions League but will a tough opponent in the Europa League
Then there’s Inter Milan, who lost out to Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League ‘Group of Death’, and would have Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez with a point to prove against their former or parent clubs.
Lukaku left Old Trafford for the San Siro in a £74million transfer having become fed up at United, while Chilean flop Sanchez is currently on loan at Inter from United.
There would also be the possibility of drawing Red Bull Salzburg and their red-hot striker Erling Haaland, who is a United transfer target.
Europa League draw
The winners of the 12 Europa League groups will be seeded as well as four of those teams that have dropped down from the Champions League with the best records.
The second-placed teams in the 12 Europa League groups plus the other four teams that have dropped down from the Champions League will not be seeded.
* Dropped down from Champions League
Confirmed seeds: Ajax*, Red Bull Salzburg*, Inter Milan*, Benfica*, Sevilla, Espanyol, Celtic
Confirmed unseeded: Bayer Leverkusen*, Shakhtar Donetsk*, Olympiacos*, Club Bruges*, APOEL Nicosia
Other teams qualified but seeding TBC: Basle, Sporting Lisbon, LASK Linz, Gent, Wolfsburg, Braga, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United, AZ Alkmaar
The draw takes place on Monday December 16 at 12pm UK time.
The ranking of the eight teams dropping down from the Champions League
Haaland has scored 28 goals in 22 matches this season, including eight in six in Salzburg’s Champions League group, and would present a real danger to United’s back line.
They would also ideally avoid Portuguese side Benfica, who were knocked down from the Champions League this week, plus the Spanish duo Sevilla and Espanyol, who have already secured top spot in their Europa groups.
United will also want to avoid a collision course with in-form Salzburg striker Haaland
Haaland is a transfer target for Manchester United after a prolific season to date
If United were to finish top, they’d face an unseeded side with possibilities including Bayer Leverkusen, Shakhtar Donetsk, Olympiacos and Club Bruges, all far less daunting.
Alternatively, they could draw a side that finished second in their Europa League group, with potential opponents including APOEL Nicosia, Malmo, Dynamo Kiev, Krasnodar, LASK Linz, Cluj, Young Boys, Ludogorets or Ferencvaros.
The final tables will be known following the sixth matchday on Thursday night, with the draw taking place in Nyon, Switzerland at 12pm on Monday.
