Europa point will do it for draw-weary United
JOSE Mourinho’s Manchester United face Zorya Luhansk tonight knowing that a draw in frigid Ukraine will propel them into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
The Premier League side, however, will want to go through in style with victory, even if Europe’s second-tier competition does not feature at the top of their priorities in Mourinho’s first season in charge. The Zorya match – in tonight’s final phase of Europa League group games – will take place in Odessa, southern Ukraine.
United will also go through to the last 32 even with a defeat if Feyenoord fail to beat Fenerbahce at home in the other Group A fixture.
Fellow Premier League representatives Southampton face Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva at St Mary’s knowing that victory or a 0-0 draw will put them in the last 32, where eight clubs who failed to progress from the Champions League will enter the fray.
They may not be European household names but Ireland’s Dundalk and Qarabag of Azerbaijan can make a slice of history.
No Irish side has ever reached the knockout stages of a UEFA club competition but domestic champions Dundalk can change that if they win at Maccabi Tel Aviv and AZ Alkmaar do not at home to Zenit St Petersburg.
A score draw for the Irish would also suffice if AZ lose in the Netherlands.
Qarabag will definitely qualify with a home victory in Baku over Fiorentina, who are all but through.
In all, there are 11 last-32 places still up for grabs. Ajax, Roma, Zenit and Schalke are among the sides already through, but Inter Milan are early casualties with nothing to play for.