That’s all from me. Thanks for reading and for your emails. Congratulations to Manchester United and good luck to Steaua Bucharest in the play-off round.
Cheers!
Manchester United and Tottenham cannot meet before the final but they will each face one of AZ Alkmaar, Midtjylland, Real Sociedad and Galatasaray in their last-16 ties.
Amazing effort from Rangers to make it though to the last eight. They will face one of Twente, Fenerbahce, Anderlecht or Bodo/Glimt in their last-16 tie. Rangers v Fenerbahce (and José Mourinho)? Yes please!
Jamie Jackson's match report from Bucharest
The final league phase standings
United are third, Steaua slip to 11th but both Tottenham and Rangers make it into the top eight and automatic qualification to the last-16 knockout stage. Everyone that finished ninth-24th must go into the play-off round in order to make it through to the last 16.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lazio | 8 | 12 | 19 |
| 2 | Athletic Bilbao | 8 | 8 | 19 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 8 | 7 | 18 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 8 | 17 |
| 5 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 8 | 4 | 16 |
| 6 | Lyon | 8 | 8 | 15 |
| 7 | Olympiacos | 8 | 6 | 15 |
| 8 | Rangers | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 9 | Bodo/Glimt | 8 | 3 | 14 |
| 10 | Anderlecht | 8 | 2 | 14 |
| 11 | FCSB | 8 | 1 | 14 |
| 12 | Ajax | 8 | 8 | 13 |
| 13 | Real Sociedad | 8 | 4 | 13 |
| 14 | Galatasaray | 8 | 3 | 13 |
| 15 | Roma | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 16 | Plzen | 8 | 1 | 12 |
| 17 | Ferencvaros | 8 | 0 | 12 |
| 18 | FC Porto | 8 | 2 | 11 |
| 19 | AZ | 8 | 0 | 11 |
| 20 | Midtjylland | 8 | 0 | 11 |
| 21 | Union Saint Gilloise | 8 | 0 | 11 |
| 22 | PAOK | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| 23 | Twente | 8 | -1 | 10 |
| 24 | Fenerbahce | 8 | -2 | 10 |
| 25 | Braga | 8 | -3 | 10 |
| 26 | IF Elfsborg | 8 | -5 | 10 |
| 27 | Hoffenheim | 8 | -3 | 9 |
| 28 | Besiktas | 8 | -5 | 9 |
| 29 | Maccabi Tel-Aviv | 8 | -9 | 6 |
| 30 | Slavia Prague | 8 | -4 | 5 |
| 31 | Malmo FF | 8 | -7 | 5 |
| 32 | Rigas FS | 8 | -7 | 5 |
| 33 | Ludogorets | 8 | -7 | 4 |
| 34 | Dynamo Kiev | 8 | -13 | 4 |
| 35 | Nice | 8 | -9 | 3 |
| 36 | Qarabag FK | 8 | -14 | 3 |
There was a lot of talk about the future of Garnacho at Manchester United at the start of the month. The quality of the opposition here is perhaps not the highest, but Garnacho tonight showed his quality. Fair play.
Updated
Full-time: Steaua Bucharest 0-2 Manchester United
A good second half-performance after a stale first half from the visitors. United are through to the last 16 after finishing well inside the top eight! After beginning the night in eighth, Steaua will have to make do with a play-off berth.
Updated
90+4 min: There are plenty of lasers being pointed at the ball and players by home supporters. Amad’s face is covered in them as he takes a corner.
90+2 min: Fernandes, who I always feel finishes games well with his fitness, is mauled by Steaua’s substitute Alhassan. Yellow card.
90 min: Four minutes added on here. United are comfortable.
89 min: Brilliant move by United! Fernandes releases Garnacho down the left wing. The Argentinian cuts inside but backheels the ball back to Fernandes, who had continued his run. But the Portuguese, through on goal, skews his finish wide. Tarnovanu had come out and spread himself well, rushing Fernandes into a shot.
86 min: Dawa, who was lucky to escape a yellow in the first half for a tackle on Hojlund, gets his booking here for absolutely clattering Casemiro. The Brazilian goes flying but admirably gets on with it, with little fuss.
84 min: And just as I write that, Steaua fashion their first real chance of the second half! Birligea holds off Yoro and slips a laaaaaaaaavely disguised pass through to the underlapping Baluta, who stings the palms of Tarnovanu with a fierce drive. United’s Turkish keeper actually gets a bit lucky with the save, with the ball deflecting only a few inches wide, when it really should have been a regulation stop.
82 min: Steaua are becoming tired and little more ragged in defence and are not getting back into their shape in the way they were in the first half.
80 min: Couple more subs to keep you updated with. Steaua bring on Stefanescu and Musi for Tanase and Miculescu. Manchester United replace Hojlund with Zirkzee.
78 min: Rangers are up into the top eight! Find out why/how with Scott Murray in our clockwatch.
Updated
76 min: Sound the pitch invader klaxon! WE HAVE A PITCH INVADER! Most of the players look unimpressed, but Chiriches on Steaua’s bench, formerly of Spurs of course, is in hysterics, clapping and laughing.
74 min: Yellow card for Baluta, who has just come on for Steaua. The right-back left one on Dalot. Garnacho is also down, looks like Alhassan was the offender, leaving some stud marks on top of the United man’s foot. That’ll be a sore one.
Updated
72 min: United respond with a couple of changes of their own: Yoro and Casemiro replace Eriksen and Martinez.
70 min: Fair play to United, they have been a lot better in this second half. Which perhaps isn’t surprising as they brought on Amad Diallo and Garnacho at half-time.
I should also mention a Steaua substitution from a couple of minutes ago: Baluta for Cretu.
GOAL! Steaua Bucharest 0-2 Manchester United (Mainoo 68)
Mainoo missed a chance in the first chance but converts an almost identical opportunity in the second, sidefooting a finish from around the penalty spot into the corner from a cut-back. Credit to Garnacho, who has made a real difference on this left flank and made the goal, pulling wide and getting a telling low cross into the box.
Updated
65 min: Here’s what Dalot’s goal has done to the live table. United are now third, and Steaua are 10th.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lazio | 8 | 12 | 19 |
| 2 | Athletic Bilbao | 8 | 8 | 19 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 8 | 6 | 18 |
| 4 | Lyon | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| 5 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 8 | 5 | 16 |
| 6 | Bodo/Glimt | 8 | 4 | 16 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 5 | 15 |
| 8 | Olympiacos | 8 | 5 | 15 |
| 9 | Rangers | 8 | 7 | 14 |
| 10 | FCSB | 8 | 2 | 14 |
| 11 | Anderlecht | 8 | 0 | 14 |
| 12 | Ajax | 8 | 9 | 13 |
| 13 | Real Sociedad | 8 | 4 | 13 |
| 14 | Galatasaray | 8 | 2 | 13 |
| 15 | Roma | 8 | 3 | 12 |
| 16 | Ferencvaros | 8 | 2 | 12 |
| 17 | Plzen | 8 | 1 | 12 |
| 18 | Fenerbahce | 8 | -1 | 12 |
| 19 | FC Porto | 8 | 2 | 11 |
| 20 | Union Saint Gilloise | 8 | -1 | 11 |
| 21 | AZ | 8 | -2 | 11 |
| 22 | IF Elfsborg | 8 | -2 | 11 |
| 23 | PAOK | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| 24 | Midtjylland | 8 | -1 | 10 |
| 25 | Braga | 8 | -3 | 10 |
| 26 | Besiktas | 8 | -4 | 10 |
| 27 | Hoffenheim | 8 | -1 | 9 |
| 28 | Twente | 8 | -2 | 8 |
| 29 | Slavia Prague | 8 | -3 | 7 |
| 30 | Rigas FS | 8 | -6 | 6 |
| 31 | Maccabi Tel-Aviv | 8 | -9 | 6 |
| 32 | Malmo FF | 8 | -8 | 4 |
| 33 | Ludogorets | 8 | -8 | 3 |
| 34 | Qarabag FK | 8 | -13 | 3 |
| 35 | Nice | 8 | -10 | 2 |
| 36 | Dynamo Kiev | 8 | -14 | 2 |
Birligea crashes a shot against United's bar!
63 min: Steaua hit the woodwork! A ball is threaded through United’s midfield to Birligea, who finds a pocket of space in front of United’s defence. Birligea drives forward and unleashes a howitzer with his left foot, the ball crunching against the underside of the bar, just in front of the goalline and away. Tanase actually missed an easy chance on the rebound but the winger was ruled offside regardless. But what an effort from Birligea. That would have been one of the finest goals of the season so far, had it gone in!
Updated
GOAL! Steaua Bucharest 0-1 Manchester United (Dalot 59)
United take the lead and it’s a simple goal! From a throw-in, Eriksen heads the ball to Mainoo, who gets to the byline and crosses wonderfully to the back post. Ngezana (a Manchester United fan) fell asleep and Dalot ghosted in to tap the ball home at the back post!
Updated
57 min: Disaster for Steaua! Olympiakos and Bodo/Glimt have both taken the lead and moved into the top eight. Steaua are now ninth and have slipped outside the automatic places into the play-offs.
55 min: Better from United, more urgency on the ball with Eriksen and Garnacho moving it quicker through the midfield.
53 min: Garnacho is getting a bit of rough treatment and is dumped on the deck twice in two minutes.
50 min: Steaua win a corner, and a great roar goes up around the stadium, having scored three goals from corners in the last round against Qarabag. Arsenal ain’t got nothing on Steaua from corners … ah. The delivery fails to beat the first man.
Garnacho hits the post!
47 min: Garnacho so nearly makes an instant impact. Dawa looses the ball cheaply for Steaua and Garnacho pounces with the Argentinian clean through on goal … he shoots wide! The winger shifted the ball onto his weaker left foot and clipped a finish onto the outside of the post and out. He’s not had a great time in the Europa League of late, missing a key chance against Rangers last week as well.
Peeeeeeeep!
We’re off again in Bucharest.
Both sides make changes: Alhassan comes on for Edjouma, a straight swap.
For United, Garnacho is on for Malacia, who was booked. Amad Diallo is on for Collyer, who had a shoulder issue.
Pace! Excitement!
If Manchester United score/win and the other scores stay as they are, Rangers will sneak into the top eight on goal difference at expense of Steaua. So you can be sure that the Romanians will be protecting their clean sheet with their lives.
“Have to echo Tim Stappard’s point: United matches have become two hour appointments of soul searching and self doubt,” emails Ben McDonald. “This was another half of football where so many more fulfilling things could have been accomplished than bearing witness to it”.
Updated
This is the league table at half-time. Manchester United fourth, and Steaua clinging on in eighth.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lazio | 8 | 12 | 19 |
| 2 | Athletic Bilbao | 8 | 7 | 19 |
| 3 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 8 | 5 | 16 |
| 4 | Man Utd | 8 | 5 | 16 |
| 5 | Lyon | 8 | 8 | 15 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 5 | 15 |
| 7 | Anderlecht | 8 | 3 | 15 |
| 8 | FCSB | 8 | 3 | 15 |
| 9 | Rangers | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 10 | Bodo/Glimt | 8 | 3 | 14 |
| 11 | Ajax | 8 | 8 | 13 |
| 12 | Galatasaray | 8 | 3 | 13 |
| 13 | Real Sociedad | 8 | 3 | 13 |
| 14 | Olympiacos | 8 | 3 | 13 |
| 15 | Roma | 8 | 3 | 12 |
| 16 | Ferencvaros | 8 | 2 | 12 |
| 17 | Plzen | 8 | 2 | 12 |
| 18 | Midtjylland | 8 | 0 | 11 |
| 19 | Union Saint Gilloise | 8 | 0 | 11 |
| 20 | AZ | 8 | -2 | 11 |
| 21 | IF Elfsborg | 8 | -2 | 11 |
| 22 | PAOK | 8 | 3 | 10 |
| 23 | Fenerbahce | 8 | -2 | 10 |
| 24 | Braga | 8 | -3 | 10 |
| 25 | Besiktas | 8 | -4 | 10 |
| 26 | FC Porto | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 27 | Twente | 8 | -2 | 8 |
| 28 | Hoffenheim | 8 | -4 | 7 |
| 29 | Maccabi Tel-Aviv | 8 | -8 | 7 |
| 30 | Rigas FS | 8 | -6 | 6 |
| 31 | Slavia Prague | 8 | -4 | 5 |
| 32 | Malmo FF | 8 | -7 | 5 |
| 33 | Ludogorets | 8 | -7 | 4 |
| 34 | Qarabag FK | 8 | -11 | 4 |
| 35 | Nice | 8 | -9 | 3 |
| 36 | Dynamo Kiev | 8 | -14 | 2 |
Here are the latest scores, which you can follow elsewhere in our clockwatch. Rangers are leading, while Tottenham are also being held 0-0 at home to Elfsborg.
Ajax 1-0 Galatasaray
Anderlecht 1-1 Hoffenheim
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Plzen
Braga 1-0 Lazio
Dynamo Kyiv 0-0 Rigas FS
FCSB 0-0 Man Utd
Ferencvaros 3-0 AZ
Lyon 0-0 Ludogorets
Maccabi Tel-Aviv 0-0 FC Porto
Midtjylland 1-1 Fenerbahce
Nice 0-0 Bodo/Glimt
Olympiacos 0-0 Qarabag FK
Rangers 1-0 Union Saint Gilloise
Real Sociedad 1-0 PAOK
Roma 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Slavia Prague 0-0 Malmo FF
Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 IF Elfsborg
Twente 0-0 Besiktas
Manchester United fans, would you accept 0-0 and just move on here? A draw will almost certainly see you qualify in the top eight but a goalless draw isn’t exactly great for the brand. Maybe that doesn’t really matter today, though.
Half-time: Steaua Bucharest 0-0 Manchester United
A poor end to what initially a promising half of football.
45+2 min: Cretu outmuscles Hojlund. Sut has been dominant in midfield. Steaua are increasingly winning the physical battle.
45 min: “United are unbelievably poor,” emails Tim Stappard. “And slow. I’m a United fan and I’ve wasted an increasing amount of my life watching this shit”.
Three minutes added on.
43 min: Malacia sprints forward from left-wing back and if found neatly by Fernandes. The Dutchman crashes a low cross across the six-yard box but Hojlund is nowhere to be seen in the middle.
40 min: Dawa nutmegs Hojlund. There hasn’t been much more to say about the last couple of minutes.
38 min: Collyer is struggling with his shoulder. It would be a shame if the 21-year-old has to come off. These would be valuable minutes.
35 min: This is increasingly a pedestrian half for Manchester United. They are lacking creativity and attacking options. Martinez fancies himself as a bit of a quarterback when he steps into midfield, but doesn’t really have the sufficient vision.
32 min: Birligea, Steaua’s striker, has been poor. The 24-year-old has failed to hold the ball up to give his team a base to build from.
30 min: Just as he did for Fernandes’ winner against Rangers last week, Martinez lofts a nice lofted through ball/cross forward to Hojlund. The Danish striker heads at goal, but can’t muster enough power to trouble Tarnovanu.
27 min: Manchester United have had 69% possession. Mainoo is shining in a more advanced role tonight. He is operating as a No 10 behind Hojlund.
25 min: Right on cue, Mazraoui goes in hard on Miculescu, but Steaua are unable to make anything from the resulting free-kick.
24 min: Steaua have been fairly limited in possession, and are defending in a low block, but do carry a duel threat on the counter attack and from set pieces. Those are their two avenues of attack tonight.
22 min: Rangers have scored against Union Saint-Gilloise. You can follow that goal and all the other goals tonight in our clockwatch.
20 min: Back come United. This has been an excellent start for the visitors, you have to say. Ngezana slides in nastily on Hojlund, taking both man and ball. It is probably a foul, and that is what the referee gives, right on the edge of Steaua’s box. Fernandes and Martínez are over the ball, and it’s the centre back that takes the free-kick, clipping a harmless shot well over the upright. I suspect that will be the final free-kick the Argentinian will take tonight.
Updated
Mainoo misses a sitter!
18 min: Oooooooh, Mainoo should score! Hojlund has looks lively and breaks the offside trap to reach the byline. He cuts the ball back to Mainoo on the penalty spot, but the teenager sidefoots his finish over the bar! He simply has to hit the target.
16 min: Mainoo makes an excellent untracked run from midfield down the left channel. The England international latches onto a clever pass, flicks a ball over his marker and is just about to volley a shot towards goal, Gazza style, when Popescu gets a toe in to put Mainoo off. Vital intervention!
14 min: A fairly blatant foul on Eriksen on the edge of Steaua’s box, but the referee waves play on. Strange.
12 min: This is painfully slow build-up from United. Dalot gets a good touch to find Hojlund inside the box. Instead of anyone trying to get a shot off or beat a man, United recycle the ball back to the half-way line. Eeeeesh.
Updated
Golden chance for Popescu!
10 min: Steaua should be leading! Radunovic whips a beautiful cross in from the free kick to the back post and Popescu, up from the back, shins it wide from six yards out. Bayindir was beaten if that had crept inside the far post. Popescu should have scored!
Updated
8 min: The loose ball breaks in United’s half and Tanase just beats Malacia to the ball, winning a dangerous free kick. A booking for Malacia! Perhaps a little harsh. It’s worth noting that Steaua won their last Europa League game (against Qarabag) by scoring three goals from corner. They are dangerous from set pieces.
6 min: This is a very defensive United XI that lacks pace. Malacia and Dalot are the only real outlets on the wings. Eriksen, Fernandes and Mainoo don’t offer a lot of dynamism, but obviously they have quality on the ball.
4 min: Collyer, the young United midfielder, has already done a good job of diffusing some of that early tension with a couple of nice chest traps and passes to help settle the visitors down.
2 min: Sut, Steaua’s captain, snarls into a couple of early challenges in midfield. Every time there is a home touch on the ball, the crowd go wild. The atmosphere is electric!
Peeeeeeep!
We’re off in Romania!
The teams are out. Steaua are in their famous blue and red. Manchester United are in their white away kit. It’s a sell-out in Bucharest, around 55,000 people packed into the National Arena. A huge tifo of Helmuth Duckadam is unveiled by the home fans: the goalkeeper who saved all four penalties in Steaua’s victorious 1986 European Cup final died in December.
“Good to see former Spurs player Vlad Chiriches among the home side’s subs,” emails Peter Oh. “When he was at Tottenham, United had Javier Chicharito Hernandez, which inspired me to call the Romanian defender Chichiriches”.
The Steaua Stadium, the Romanian’s normal stadium, was built in 2021 and cost €91m, less than one Antony. However, for European games, Steaua are permitted to play at the National Arena in Bucharest so that is tonight’s venue. Manchester United can expect a warm welcome from the Ultras situated behind the goal.
If you’re wondering why the official name of tonight’s hosts is FCSB, this is helpful guide (even if it is from 2014).
The importance of the Europa League to Manchester United, particularly with their league campaign already up in flames, cannot be overstated. This remains their only route back into the Champions League for next season. We’re a long way from the final but winning the Europa League would certainly save Amorim’s season with the prize of a major trophy and top-tier European qualification.
That’s very nearly a first choice XI for Manchester United. The build-up to this match obviously charted the storied history of this competition and the key outcomes for this potentially decisive clash the future of Marcus Rashford.
The teams!
Steaua: Tarnovanu, Mihai Popescu, Ngezana, Dawa, Cretu, Edjouma, Sut, Radunovic, Tanase, Birligea, Miculescu.
Subs: Udrea, Stefanescu, Daniel Popa, Chiriches, Toma, Baluta, Pantea, Musi, Alhassan.
Manchester United: Bayindir, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Collyer, Mainoo, Malacia, Eriksen, Fernandes, Hojlund.
Subs: Heaton, Onana, Lindelof, Maguire, Zirkzee, Yoro, Diallo, Garnacho, Casemiro, Ugarte.
Preamble
Two former European Cup winners meet tonight, hoping in vain to restore some sense of former glory in in Europe’s second-tier competition, but both with aspirations of making the top eight and automatic qualification to the last 16.
Manchester United, currently fourth in the table, need a win to be sure of that tonight but a draw at Steaua probably be enough, so long as a string of unlikely results elsewhere don’t happen. The home side are hanging onto eighth and will also want a victory to make sure of their progress but anything else and they could be usurped by Galatasaray, Bodo/Glimt, Olympiakos, Plzen or even Rangers and AZ, way back on 11 points.
This is the current table, as things stand before the 8pm kick-offs (all times GMT).
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lazio | 7 | 13 | 19 |
| 2 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| 3 | Athletic Bilbao | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| 4 | Man Utd | 7 | 5 | 15 |
| 5 | Lyon | 7 | 8 | 14 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 5 | 14 |
| 7 | Anderlecht | 7 | 3 | 14 |
| 8 | FCSB | 7 | 3 | 14 |
| 9 | Galatasaray | 7 | 4 | 13 |
| 10 | Bodo/Glimt | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| 11 | Plzen | 7 | 3 | 12 |
| 12 | Olympiacos | 7 | 3 | 12 |
| 13 | Rangers | 7 | 5 | 11 |
| 14 | AZ | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| 15 | Union Saint Gilloise | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| 16 | Ajax | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 17 | PAOK | 7 | 4 | 10 |
| 18 | Real Sociedad | 7 | 2 | 10 |
| 19 | Midtjylland | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| 20 | IF Elfsborg | 7 | -2 | 10 |
| 21 | Roma | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| 22 | Ferencvaros | 7 | -1 | 9 |
| 23 | Fenerbahce | 7 | -2 | 9 |
| 24 | Besiktas | 7 | -4 | 9 |
| 25 | FC Porto | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| 26 | Twente | 7 | -2 | 7 |
| 27 | Braga | 7 | -4 | 7 |
| 28 | Hoffenheim | 7 | -4 | 6 |
| 29 | Maccabi Tel-Aviv | 7 | -8 | 6 |
| 30 | Rigas FS | 7 | -6 | 5 |
| 31 | Slavia Prague | 7 | -4 | 4 |
| 32 | Malmo FF | 7 | -7 | 4 |
| 33 | Ludogorets | 7 | -7 | 3 |
| 34 | Qarabag FK | 7 | -11 | 3 |
| 35 | Nice | 7 | -9 | 2 |
| 36 | Dynamo Kiev | 7 | -14 | 1 |
Of course, just like the mad conclusion of Wednesday night’s Champions League league phase, all the games are also kicking off at the same time for fairness. Here are the other 17 fixtures.
Ajax v Galatasaray
Anderlecht v Hoffenheim
Athletic Bilbao v Viktoria Plzen
Braga v Lazio
Dynamo Kyiv v FK RFS
FC Twente v Besiktas
Ferencvaros v AZ Alkmaar
Lyon v Ludogorets
Maccabi Tel Aviv v Porto
Midtjylland v Fenerbahce
Nice vs Bodo/Glimt
Olympiacos v Qarabag
Rangers v Union Saint-Gilloise
Roma v Eintracht Frankfurt
Real Sociedad v PAOK
Slavia Prague v Malmo
Tottenham v Elfsborg
As you can imagine, there are too many permutations to list here. The easier thing to say is that only leaders Lazio are assured of a top eight/automatic qualification to the last 16 and only the bottom-placed seven clubs (Rigas FS, Slavia Prague, Malmo, Ludogorets, Qarabag, Nice and Dynamo Kyiv) are certain of not making the play-off round (those that finish ninth-24th).
You can follow our clockwatch to keep pace with the rest of the games, including Tottenham v Elfsborg and Rangers v Union Saint-Gilloise.
As for Steaua Bucharest v Manchester United, we’ll have the team news shortly and kick-off at 8pm.
Updated
