MANCHESTER UNITED could face a dream last-16 tie in the Europa League if they beat Barcelona on Thursday evening.
The Red Devils host the LaLiga leaders at Old Trafford seven days after drawing 2-2 at the Nou Camp.
GettyManchester United will be in the hat for the last-16 if they can beat Barcelona[/caption]
ReutersMikel Arteta’s men qualified for the last-16 as group winners[/caption]
Victory would secure their progress into the next round where they would face one of seven table toppers from the group stage.
That excludes Arsenal – who they cannot draw due to teams from the same country being unable to face one another until the quarter-final stage.
And not only will Erik ten Hag‘s men dodge the Gunners if they reach the next stage, they will also receive a very kind draw if SunSport’s supercomputer is anything to go by.
In a simulated draw we have them coming up against Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros.
How SunSport’s supercomputer predicted the Europa League last-16 draw
And while the Red Devils would be aware they are coming up against a side that finished above Monaco in the group stage, Man Utd would undeniably be the overwhelming favourites to reach the last eight.
By contrast, Premier League leaders Arsenal could be handed a much tougher tie despite winning their group.
Mikel Arteta‘s side won five of their six games as they breezed into the last-16.
Yet because the Champions League teams have dropped down into the competition to face the group runners-up in a play-off round, there are still some huge teams in the hat.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Barcelona are a potential opponent for Arsenal if they come through their tie with Man Utd.
However, our supercomputer has drawn them against another European giant in the form of Juventus.
Max Allegri’s team head to France off the back of a 1-1 first-leg draw with Nantes.
But if they do manage to come through that test, a clash with Arsenal may well be on the horizon.
Other possible sides the Gunners could face include Ajax, Union Berlin, Roma, Sevilla and Sporting Lisbon.
And potential ties for Man Utd include the likes of Real Betis, Fenerbahce, Freiburg and Feyenoord.
The actual draw takes place in Switzerland at 11am BST on Friday, February 24.