Europa League Round of 32: United To Meet Ajax

United will face Ajax in an attractive two-legged tie in the Round of 32 of the Europa League.

The first leg will take at the Amsterdam ArenA on Thursday 16 February, KO 18:00 GMT, with the second leg at Old Trafford on Thursday 23 February, KO 20:05 GMT. Ticket prices for the home game have now been announced.

The Reds were paired with the Dutch giants in Friday's draw, a repeat of the UEFA Cup matches in 1976 when a 1-0 deficit from the away game was overturned 2-0 in the second leg in Manchester. United have also competed in the pre-season Amsterdam Tournament on four occasions, winning it in 2006, and Edwin van der Sar's testimonial took place at the Amsterdam ArenA in August, featuring several Reds in a side managed by Sir Alex.

"Ajax are a good team and I've never faced them in competitive European football," the manager told ManUtd.com. "I'm looking forward to it."

Frank De Boer's side have a great pedigree, having won the European Cup/Champions League four times and the European Cup-Winners Cup and UEFA Cup once. The dates for the fixtures in February will be confirmed soon. The victors will progress to meet either Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao in the Round of 16.

Defender Chris Smalling told ManUtd.com he was looking forward to facing Ajax and said United would strive to win the Europa League. "It was a massive disappointment [going out of the Champions League]," he said. "But look at the calibre of teams that are in the Europa League...

"We've drawn Ajax and they have a lot of history. That will be a good test. A lot of the teams will be keen to do well. Whoever wins the competition will be a good team."

Elsewhere, Manchester City face holders Porto with Stoke City tackling Valencia.

Round of 32
FC Porto v Manchester City
Ajax v United
Lokomotiv Moscow v Athletic Bilbao
FC Salzburg v Metalist Kharkiv
Stoke City v Valencia
Rubin Kazan v Olympiacos
AZ Alkmaar v Anderlecht
Lazio v Atletico Madrid
Steaua Bucharest v FC Twente
Viktoria Plzen v Schalke 04
Wisla Krakov v Standard Liege
Braga v Besiktas
Udinese v PAOK
Trabzonspor v PSV
Hannover 96 v Brugge
Legia Warsaw v Sporting