Europa League: United faces Celta Vigo, Ajax to take on Lyon in semis

Manchester United will face the Spanish side Celta Vigo in the semifinal of the Europa League next month. In the other semifinal Ajax will take on Lyon.

Published : Apr 21, 2017 17:08 IST , Nyon, Switzerland

Mourinho's United has the advantage of playing the second leg at Old Trafford.
Mourinho's United has the advantage of playing the second leg at Old Trafford.
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Mourinho's United has the advantage of playing the second leg at Old Trafford.

Manchester United will face the Spanish side Celta Vigo in the semifinal of the Europa League next month over two legs. In the other semifinal Ajax will take on Lyon, after the draw on Friday.

Jose Mourinho's United has the advantage of playing the second leg at Old Trafford as it attempts to lift the Europa League, knowing victory in the final would give them a place in next season's Champions League.

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United will travel to Spain for the first leg on May 4 before Celta visits Manchester for the return on May 11.

With United currently four points outside the Premier League top four, winning the Europa League for the first time may represent its best chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

Celta sits 10th in La Liga and progressed from the quarterfinal after following up a 3-2 home win against Genk by drawing Thursday's second leg 1-1 in Belgium.

United has never faced Celta in UEFA competition and the Spanish side is through to a major European semifinal for the first time in its history.

As England's final European representatives this season, United was made to sweat by Anderlecht in the quarterfinal second leg on Thursday.

Marcus Rashford's extra-time goal sealed a 2-1 win at Old Trafford that sent United through 3-2 on aggregate.

If United makes it to the final in Stockholm's Friends Arena on May 24 it will be the club's first appearance in the decisive match of Europe's second-tier tournament.

It would also be United's first European final since it lost the 2011 Champions League decider against Barcelona at Wembley.

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