Thursday Night Is Football Night - Europa League 2020-21

[Duncan Gardner]

Congrats to reviving Timothy- that's what bringing in a NI internationalist can do for confidence

Conor Hazard currently captains our U-21 side.Career highlight so far was our away win over eventual champions Spain, in which he saved a penalty

[Wouter D]

To me, the keeper's fist clearly bounces off the forward's head. Whether that is an unfortunate collision resulting from both going for the ball, or a red-card offense, is up for debate. But I do see fist to head contact.

[DPDPDPDP]

All I’m seeing is the goalie punching the ball.

[fatbear]

Something smiliar was awarded in the recent Albania vs Belarus Nations League group decider, when Belaus keeper Khatkevich punched the ball under a challenge from an Albanian, and a penalty was awarded. I expect we'll see coaches encouraging their players to get punched in the head in order to win penalties, or perhaps more likely pretend there has been contact.

Once upon a time the keepers always got the decision, they couldn't even be touched, but the times have changed...............

[delicatemoth]

Draw for first KO round:-

• Wolfsberger v Tottenham
• Dynamo Kyiv v Club Brugge
• Real Sociedad v Manchester United
• Benfica v Arsenal
• Red Star Belgrade v AC Milan
• Royal Antwerp v Rangers
• Slavia Prague v Leicester
• Salzburg v Villarreal
• Braga v Roma
• Krasnodar v Dinamo Zagreb
• Young Boys v Bayer Leverkusen
• Molde v Hoffenheim
• Granada v Napoli
• Maccabi Tel-Aviv v Shakhtar Donetsk
• Lille v Ajax
• Olympiakos v PSV Eindhoven

[Diable Rouge]

Fair to say probably the strongest unseeded team Man United could have got, Arsenal would hardly welcome Benfica either given their form, but the Portuguese side are also struggling.

[pebblethefish]

Given their current form, Arsenal would hardly welcome Benfleet

[Satchmo Distel]

Have Man U ever been knocked out before the last 16 of this competition (or its predecessor)?

I suppose, technically, it might be a disadvantage for Leicester's Top 4 ambitions if they go further than Man U (assuming Arsenal are no longer in that frame).

[Diable Rouge]

Have Man U ever been knocked out before the last 16 of this competition (or its predecessor)?

I suppose, technically, it might be a disadvantage for Leicester's Top 4 ambitions if they go further than Man U (assuming Arsenal are no longer in that frame).

There was the infamous Rotor Volgograd debacle in the very first round in 1995-96.

[Southport Zeb]

Have Man U ever been knocked out before the last 16 of this competition (or its predecessor)?

They've had five UEFA Cup campaigns in which they failed to reach the last 16:

1976-77 - lost to Juventus in last 32
1980-81 - lost to Widzew Lodz on away goals in last 64
1982-83 - lost to Valencia in last 64
1992-93 - lost to Torpedo Moscow on penalties in last 64
1995-96 - lost to Rotor Volgograd on away goals in last 64

[Satchmo Distel]

I wonder if the Rotor Volgograd loss actually did them a favour that season, reducing the congestion.

[Sporting]

[QUOTE=Diable Rouge;n2386971]Fair to say probably the strongest unseeded team Man United could have got,/QUOTE]

Yes, but Real Sociedad have been stumbling of late.