Europa League round-of-16 preview

The Reds welcome our Spanish opponents to Old Trafford, looking to bounce back from Sunday’s heavy defeat at the hands of Liverpool, while Real Betis have been in good form of late.

Ahead of the first leg, find out which other sides are still active in this European competition and hoping to reach May's final in Budapest...

BAYER LEVERKUSEN V FERENCVAROS (17:45 GMT)

One of three Bundesliga teams still competing, Champions League drop-outs Bayer Leverkusen host Ferencvaros of Budapest, who topped Group H ahead of Monaco – the French side were eliminated by Leverkusen in the play-offs, after a penalty shoot-out. Ferencvaros won the Fairs Cup - the predecessor to this tournament - back in 1965, while Leverkusen were UEFA Cup winners in 1988.

ROMA V REAL SOCIEDAD (17:45 GMT)

Former United manager Jose Mourinho’s Roma are pitted against Real Sociedad, whom we met in Group E. Roma had to overcome a two-legged clash with RB Salzburg to reach this stage, after Real Betis – our last-16 opponents – topped Group C ahead of the Italian outfit. The Reds knocked both of these sides out on the way to reaching the Europa League final two years ago.

SPORTING V ARSENAL (17:45 GMT)

Premier League leaders Arsenal travel to Sporting in their last-16 clash. The Gunners finished top of their group, while Sporting overcame Midtjylland in the play-offs, after coming third in a Champions League group containing Tottenham prior to Christmas. Sporting have a good record in knockout ties against English sides in this competition, eliminating Newcastle, Bolton, Everton and Manchester City this century.

UNION BERLIN V UNION SAINT-GILLOISE (17:45 GMT)

In-form Union Berlin, of the Bundesliga, take on Belgian Pro League side Union Saint-Gilloise, with the German outfit having knocked Ajax – formerly managed by United boss Erik ten Hag – out in the play-offs. These two teams actually met in the group stage too, with the Belgian side topping Group D by only one point. In those two matches, the teams won a game each, leaving this one difficult to call ahead of the first leg in the German capital.

JUVENTUS V FREIBURG

Three-time UEFA Cup winners Juventus dropped into the Europa League after failing to get out of their Champions League group, and face the third Bundesliga side still active in the competition, in the form of Freiburg. Christian Streich's side topped Group G with ease, and are yet to suffer a defeat in the competition. Juventus, meanwhile, must be among the favourites even in a tumultuous campaign which has seen them have to bear a Serie A points deduction.

SEVILLA V FENERBAHCE

Six-time victors Sevilla face Turkish giants Fenerbahce in a tie worth keeping an eye on from a United point of view, as left-back Alex Telles is currently on loan from the Reds. The Andalusians are struggling domestically, as they sit 17th in La Liga, and had a disappointing Champions League campaign, but must always be taken seriously in this competition. The Turkish side are six points behind fierce rivals Galatasaray in an enthralling Super Lig title race.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK V FEYENOORD

Shakhtar Donetsk are the last of the five sides in the last-16 who were successful in the play-offs after dropping down into the competition from the Champions League. The Ukrainian side face a strong Feyenoord team who finished at the top of Group F to reach this stage. This match will be played at the Polish Army Stadium in Warsaw, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

FULL FIRST-LEG FIXTURE LIST

17:45 GMT KICK-OFFS

Bayer Leverkusen v Ferencvaros
Roma v Real Sociedad
Sporting v Arsenal
Union Berlin v Union Saint-Gilloise

20:00 GMT KICK-OFFS

Juventus v Freiburg
Manchester United v Real Betis
Sevilla v Fenerbahce
Shakhtar Donetsk v Feyenoord