Europa League: Who'll win the other play-offs?

But what about the other seven ties being played at this stage of the competition? And who will win each one and join Arsenal, Fenerbahce, Ferencvaros, Feyenoord, Freiburg, Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Union Saint-Gilloise in going through to the last 16?

Here’s the lowdown on Thursday’s play-off first legs…

AJAX v UNION BERLIN (17:45 GMT)

Ajax were unlucky to come up against Napoli and Liverpool in their Champions League group and this is another tricky looking draw, with Union Berlin currently second in the Bundesliga, just one point behind reigning champions Bayern Munich. The Amsterdam club sacked Alfred Schreuder – Erik ten Hag’s replacement and former assistant – last month and their form has recovered under John Heitinga, as three straight Eredivisie wins have closed the gap on leaders Feyenoord to three points.

Union, who are enjoying their first season in European competition, have a formidable home record under Urs Fischer, losing just once at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei in 2022/23. That defeat was a costly one, as it enabled Union Saint-Gilloise to top Group D and consigned Union to this play-off. The Berlin outfit will be relishing the test though, having won all five of their games since the Bundesliga restarted in January.

RB SALZBURG V ROMA (17:45 GMT)

Salzburg made it to the Champions League knockouts last season but finished third in their group this time around, behind Chelsea and AC Milan. The Austrian champions look well-placed to win another title under highly rated young coach Matthias Jaissle and have their usual contingent of up-and-coming talent, with Noah Okafor particularly tipped for big things.

They’ll have to get past a Roma side managed by one of Europe’s most experienced coaches in Jose Mourinho, though. The former United boss led the Giallorossi to Europa Conference League success in his first season in charge at the Stadio Olimpico and has spearheaded a push for the Serie A’s top four this time around. Paulo Dybala has been an excellent addition from Juventus, with the Argentinian leading Roma’s goal charts this term but, as ever under Mourinho, the team is built on solid foundations. Former Reds defender Chris Smalling and midfielder Nemanja Matic are integral to a shield which has conceded just 19 goals in the Italian top flight – a number only Juventus and the runaway leaders Napoli can better.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK v RENNES (17:45 GMT)

Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine meaning they have to play their games in neighbouring Poland, Shakhtar put together a strong Champions League group-stage campaign and their hopes of reaching the knockouts were only ended by a 4-0 defeat to RB Leipzig on matchday six. Shakhtar lost star player Mykhailo Mudryk in January but added veteran defender Yaroslav Rakitskyi, who was with the club when they won the Europa League back in 2009.

Rennes have lost five of eight Ligue 1 outings since the season resumed following the World Cup break, while attacker Kamaldeen Sulemana joined Southampton on deadline day. He’s been replaced by Karl Toko Ekambi, who has joined on loan from Lyon for the rest of the season. Bruno Genesio’s side are unbeaten in this season’s competition, but three group-stage draws meant they ceded top spot to Fenerbahce.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN v MONACO (20:00 GMT)

The German club eliminated Atletico Madrid from European competition on the head-to-head rule, after both finished level on five points in Champions League Group B. Xabi Alonso’s side have had something of an underwhelming campaign domestically but their results have picked up since this draw was made, with the return of star playmaker Florian Wirtz from a cruciate ligament rupture coinciding with a run of six wins in eight.

Along with top scorer Moussa Diaby, Wirtz will be key in this tie against a Monaco team who are buoyant following Saturday’s home win over Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Philippe Clement’s men were unlucky to finish second behind Ferencvaros in their European group but they are on an eight-match unbeaten run in the French top flight, a sequence which has seen them plunder 22 goals, with Wissam Ben Yedder being one of the continent’s most prolific marksmen.

JUVENTUS v NANTES (20:00 GMT)

Still reeling from a points deduction which has left them marooned in mid-table in Serie A, Juventus will be among the favourites to go all the way in this competition, despite their disappointing results in the Champions League group stage. While Paul Pogba has been dogged by injury since joining from United in the summer, the Old Lady still offer plenty of threat in attack, with Dusan Vlahovic leading the line and Federico Chiesa back from a long-term injury.

The Italian club go up against last season's Coupe de France winners Nantes, who are experiencing their first campaign in Europe for over two decades. The Canaries are struggling domestically but beat Olympiacos home and away in their Europa League group and will hope to pull off a surprise against a side they once met in the Champions League semi-finals, back in 1996.

SEVILLA v PSV EINDHOVEN (20:00 GMT)

Sevilla are Europa League royalty, having won this tournament on six occasions since 2006. The Andalusians are surprisingly embroiled in a relegation battle under Jorge Sampaoli but must be taken seriously in a competition they’ve dominated in recent years. United left-back Alex Telles is on loan with Sevilla but is still recovering from the knee injury he picked up at the World Cup.

Under former Reds hero Ruud van Nistelrooy, PSV Eindhoven are part of a thrilling Eredivisie title race which sees the Netherlands’ top four sides separated by just four points. PSV lost key forward Cody Gakpo to Liverpool last month but Fabio Silva and Thorgan Hazard have arrived and they could pose a threat, especially at the Philips Stadion, where they beat Arsenal in the autumn. Like Sevilla, the Dutch club are also past winners of this competition, when it was the UEFA Cup back in 1978.

SPORTING CLUB V MIDTJYLLAND (20:00 GMT)

Two of Europe’s premier talent producers go up against each other in an intriguing tie. Sporting were unfortunate to miss out on the Champions League knockouts after Tottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt prevailed in Group D, but Ruben Amorim’s side have been a little off-colour in Portugal's Primeira Liga and currently sit fourth after finishing first and second in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Former Tottenham youngster Marcus Edwards has stood out, while ex-Wolves forward Pedro Goncalves is their leading scorer.

Last season’s runners-up in Denmark's Super Liga, Midtjylland are currently a lowly seventh in the table, with draws blighting their domestic campaign. However, Europe has given them some cheer as they finished second behind Feyenoord in a remarkable Europa League Group F, where all four teams ended up on eight points. A 5-1 thrashing of Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio proved pivotal in establishing a goal-difference cushion over the Romans, and the 2-0 victory over Sturm Graz on a dramatic matchday six sealed their place in the play-offs. This will be their first game of 2023, following their winter break.