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The UEFA Europa League round of 16 draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, and from those methacrylate bowls of fate a huge blockbuster was selected: Manchester United vs. AC Milan.
The two clubs have an excellent pedigree when it comes to European football, winning the Champions League 10 times between them, but this is the first time they have faced each other in another UEFA competition.
11 – The first leg will be the eleventh meeting between Manchester United and AC Milan in European competition, and the previous 10 meetings will be held in the European Cup / Champions League. Fallen. #UELdraw pic.twitter.com/dDPyoTV3PT
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 26, 2021
United and Milan have met only six times in competitive matches, with one of the most famous cases occurring in the 2007 semi-finals when Kaka scored a wonderful solo goal (with, it must be said, the help of a suboptimal defense).
Memories of United vs Milan in the #UCL @KAKA 🙌 https://t.co/aS2KbADnnA pic.twitter.com/QlCEOlJO5z
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 26, 2021
Sir Alex Ferguson’s team won 3-2 at home in the first leg, but a brilliant double from Kaka finally ensured that the Rossoneri advanced with a 5-3 aggregate victory, keeping the Italian giants in control over the Red Devils.
4 – Manchester United have been eliminated in four of their five UEFA European qualifiers against AC Milan; no team has eliminated the Red Devils more often (also Real Madrid, 4). Enemies. #UELdraw pic.twitter.com/Fly56WhSNW
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 26, 2021
However, it is not as if Milan have always had their way, with the knockout stages of the 2010 Champions League as an example.
Another European classic 🔜❓
🔥 Milan 2-3 Manchester United, 2010:
⏰0⃣3⃣ Ronaldinho
⏰3⃣6⃣ Scholes
6⃣6⃣ Rooney
7⃣4⃣ Rooney
⃣8⃣5⃣ Seedorf #UCL https://t.co/aS2KbADnnA pic.twitter.com/0QJCE4rcTt– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 26, 2021
There is a reason that Sir Alex Ferguson is considered the greatest coach of all time.
Manchester United beat this AC Milan team 7-2 on aggregate 2010 😳 pic.twitter.com/7C4wftJJ4I
– ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 26, 2021
United have fairly recent experience of what it takes to win the Europa League after winning the tournament four years ago.
The glory came in 2016-17 when a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in the first of his two seasons at Old Trafford, helped lead the Red Devils into the later stages of the competition only to miss the final with a knee injury.
It is famous that Ibrahimovic attended the final on crutches, but still managed to celebrate the 2-0 victory over Ajax in Stockholm with great enthusiasm.
Man United vs. AC Milan in the round of 16 of the Europa League.
The return of Zlatan 🍿 pic.twitter.com/XtuQQxweKc
– ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 26, 2021
However, Ibra had already made a strong contribution that season. He scored the winning goal in his United debut, a 2-1 win over Leicester City to win the season-opening Community Shield at Wembley, and also scored two goals in a 3-2 win over Southampton at the EFL Cup final.
🦁
🗓️ It’s been 4️⃣ years since @Ibra_Official went home with the winner at Wembley! 🏆 # MUFC #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/s8fcLKDfs7
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 26, 2021
Overall that season, Ibrahimovic was directly involved in 37 goals in 46 games in all competitions for United during the 2016-17 campaign, scoring 28 goals and providing nine assists. Sadly, his second season at Old Trafford was cut short by one injury and scored just once in seven appearances in 2017-18 before a period allowed him to fully recover and embark on a goal-laden period in MLS with the LA Galaxy.
Zlatan Ibrahimović directly participated in 37 goals in 46 games for Man Utd during 2016-17:
◉ 28 goals
◉ 9 assistsGo back to Old Trafford. #UELdraw pic.twitter.com/3uDcY1MAbP
– Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 26, 2021
Now 39, the Swedish forward will once again face his old club with Milan when the two heavyweights meet in the 2020-21 knockout phase. He will return to Old Trafford in hopes of wreaking similar havoc on several of his former teammates.
Pogba 🤝 Zlatan
The Lion returns to Old Trafford 🦁 pic.twitter.com/YUmGaSaUQg
– ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) February 26, 2021
In fact, Eric Bailly must be fearing the worst afterward, during their time together as teammates, daring to kick Ibra in the butt and flee the scene before the latter, a Taekwondo black belt, no less, could. get revenge.
See this post on Instagram
At least Bailly will likely avoid having to face Ibra, at least on the field, as he hasn’t started too many games this season. So other United defenders are likely to fear having to contain a striker who, despite his advanced years, has still scored 16 goals in 20 appearances this season.
When you realize that you are going to have to mark Zlatan Ibrahimovic – TWICE!
Manchester United have tied AC Milan in the round of 16 of the Europa League. pic.twitter.com/3iPutoaCdJ
– BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) February 26, 2021
This tie will be one that will thrill both groups of fans, in particular the United supporters, who will be able to see their former star on the field at Old Trafford once again. It’s a shame none of them are there to see it in person.
Manchester United teams have met in cup competitions this season:
Paris Saint-Germain 🇫🇷
RB Leipzig 🇩🇪
Manchester City 🏴
Liverpool 🏴
Royal Society 🇪🇸
Leicester City 🏴
AC Milan 🇮🇹So many great ties, players and clubs that the crowds have missed seeing 😭 pic.twitter.com/sya9pRhkdH
– FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) February 26, 2021
Source: espn.co.uk
“> https://www.instagram.com/p/BYBhgz5BscP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading” data-instgrm-version = “13” style = “background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; shadow-box: 0 0 1px 0 rgba (0,0,0,0.5), 0 1px 10px 0 rgba (0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; maximum width: 540px; minimum width: 326px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%; width: -webkit-calc (100% – 2px); width: calc (100% – 2px); “> See this post on Instagram
At least Bailly will likely avoid having to face Ibra, at least on the field, as he hasn’t started too many games this season. So other United defenders are likely to fear having to contain a striker who, despite his advanced years, has still scored 16 goals in 20 appearances this season.
When you realize that you are going to have to mark Zlatan Ibrahimovic, TWICE!
Manchester United have tied AC Milan in the round of 16 of the Europa League. pic.twitter.com/3iPutoaCdJ
– BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) February 26, 2021
This tie will be one that will thrill both groups of fans, in particular the United supporters, who will be able to see their former star on the field at Old Trafford once again. It’s a shame none of them are there to see it in person.
Manchester United teams have met in cup competitions this season:
Paris Saint-Germain 🇫🇷
RB Leipzig 🇩🇪
Manchester City 🏴
Liverpool 🏴
Royal Society 🇪🇸
Leicester City 🏴
AC Milan 🇮🇹So many great ties, players and clubs that the crowds have missed seeing 😭 pic.twitter.com/sya9pRhkdH
– FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) February 26, 2021
Source: espn.co.uk
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