Heads-up on Reds next challenge on long road to Euro glory

UNITED avoided successive trips out to Eastern Europe as they were drawn to face Belgian side Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Arguably, only Genk would’ve provided easier opposition and, just as in the last 16 against FC Rostov, the Reds also have home advantage for the second leg of the tie.

So what can the Reds expect? WHO ARE ANDERLECHT? RSC Anderlecht are based in the Belgian capital Brussels and currently top the first division by two points, having finished second in last year’s competition.

The purple and whites play at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, formerly known as the Emile Verse Stadium, with a capacity of 21,845 on European nights. THEIR PATH SO FAR? Like United, Anderlecht qualified for the knock-out stages of the Europa League by finishing second in their group.

They picked up one fewer point than the Reds in the group stages.

However, they only lost one from their six games – at home to group winners St Etienne, the side United saw off the in round of 32. KEY MEN Lukasz Teodorczyk is Anderlecht’s top goalscorer in the Europa League this term having scored five so far – the same number as Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Attacking midfielder Sofiane Hanni is also level with Ibrahimovic on the stats board, however, his is for also chipping in with four assists alongside the Swede.

As captain, his role is already important and the Algerian international will be one of Anderlecht’s main creative threats.

WHEN IS UNITED V ANDERLECHT?

United travel to Belgium on Thursday, April 13, three days before they host Chelsea.

The return leg will be a week later on the April 20 ahead of a tricky trip to Burnley the following Sunday.