Man U get LASK in Europa last 16
Fernandes inspires Devils, Olympiakos shock Arsenal in extra time, will take on Wolves
>> NYON: Manchester United will meet Austrian club LASK in the last 16 of the Europa League, while Wolves were pitted against Olympiakos in yesterday’s draw.
United, who lifted the trophy in 2017, are one of six former champions left in the competition. The first leg will be played in Linz on March 12 with the return a week later at Old Trafford.
Austrian league leaders LASK made their group stage debut this season and secured a 3-1 aggregate win over Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar in the last 32.
Wolves progressed to the last 16 of a major European competition for the first time since finishing runners-up in the Uefa Cup in 1971-72, after overcoming Spanish strugglers Espanyol.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will take on an Olympiakos team that shocked Arsenal in the last round, the Greeks advancing on away goals on Thursday following a 2-1 extra-time victory in London.
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers, the 2008 finalists, face Bayer Leverkusen who dumped out Porto in a clash of two former winners of the competition.
Inter Milan, winners of the tournament in 1991, 1994 and 1998, were drawn against La Liga surprise package Getafe, conquerors of last year’s Champions League semi-finalists, Dutch giants Ajax.
Five-time former champions Sevilla face a tricky tie against Roma, while 2009 winners Shakhtar Donetsk will lock horns with Wolfsburg.
Turkey’s Istanbul Basaksehir face FC Copenhagen, while Basel await the winners of the tie between Eintracht Frankfurt
and Salzburg.
The final will be played in the Polish city of Gdansk on May 27.
On Thursday, Youssef El-Arabi scored in the last minute of extratime as Olympiakos knocked Arsenal out of the Europa League.
Ajax, Celtic, Benfica and Porto went out but Manchester United hardly broke sweat after Simon Deli of Brugge conceded a penalty and earned a red card in the 23rd minute at Old Trafford and won 5-0.
Arsenal had won the first leg of the round of 32 tie 1-0 in Greece.
Defender Pape Abou Cisse cancelled out that advantage when he headed in a corner after
53 minutes.
Arsenal could not break through and were forced to extra time.
Giorgos Masouras hit the bar for Olympiakos in the 112th minute and a minute later Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck for Arsenal, putting them back in front with a spectacular flying kick.
However, in the final minute of extra time, Arsenal cleared an Olympiakos corner but were still disorganised when the ball was swung back into the area.
The cross found El Arabi free in front of goal for an unchallenged shot.
“It hurts a lot,” said Mikel Arteta,
the Arsenal manager.
At Old Trafford, one of United’s recent signings Bruno Fernandes gave the hosts the lead with a penalty after Deli’s flying intervention.
The other new boy, Odion Ighalo, making his first start, hit his first goal for the club in the 34th minute.
Scott McTominay and Fred, with two late goals, completed the 5-0 rout and 6-1 aggregate win.