Manchester United’s Europa League journey kicks off with a challenging group stage draw, pitting them against Scottish giants Rangers and Jose Mourinho’s current club, Fenerbahce. The draw, held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, revealed the Red Devils’ eight opponents in the first stage: Rangers, Porto, PAOK, Fenerbahce, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, FC Twente, and FCSB.
The new Europa League format mirrors the Champions League, with the traditional group stage replaced by a league phase. The top eight teams from this phase will directly qualify for the Round of 16, while those finishing 9th to 16th will face off in two-legged knockout matches to determine the remaining Round of 16 spots. The rest of the teams will be eliminated.
One of the most anticipated matchups, if not the most, is the away clash against Fenerbahce, led by former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho’s United side triumphed in the Europa League in 2017, defeating Ajax Amsterdam in the final. The Red Devils haven’t lifted a continental trophy since, and ‘The Special One’ will relish the opportunity to go head-to-head with his former club. This clash is set to take place at the Şukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul. The match promises to be a reunion filled with drama and intrigue as Mourinho seeks to prove his continued tactical prowess against the club he once led to glory.
