Manchester United have reached the last 16 of the Europa League in each of the six occasions that they have competed in UEFA's second-tier competition.
Italian giants AC Milan were their most recent opponents at this stage of the 2020/21 edition and were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side on aggregate. United have also previously played Spanish opposition in this round before, back when they were knocked out against Marcelo Bielsa's Athletic Club in 2012.
Much has changed rule-wise over those 11 years, though, and even since Solskjaer's side reached the 2021 final, so the Manchester Evening News have recapped the competition's ever-changing rules before kick-off.
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Is there VAR?
As it has been throughout the group stages and during both legs against Barcelona, video assistant referees will be used during the Europa League round of 16 too. After it was also introduced for the Europa Conference League knockout rounds too, VAR is used across all three UEFA club competitions at least from the knockout round play-offs onwards.
What about away goals and extra time?
UEFA announced in late June 2021 that the away goals rule was being abolished across all of their club competitions ahead of the 2021/22 season starting. So, now two teams tied on aggregate at the end of 90 minutes in their second leg play another 30 minutes of extra-time and a penalty shootout if required to decide a winner.
Could yellow card accumulation be a worry?
It already affected United during the play-offs when Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer were both suspended for the first leg against Barcelona. Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes face quarter-final first-leg suspension if they were to receive yellow cards vs Real Betis in Seville on Thursday.
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