Learn More About FC Midtjylland

Manchester United will face FC Midtjylland for the first time ever after the clubs were paired together in Monday's Europa League draw.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

The Danish SuperLiga side qualified for the knockout stages after finishing in second place in Group D behind Napoli but ahead of Club Brugge, United's opponents in the Champions League play-offs. In an earlier Europa League round this term, Midtjylland knocked Southampton out over two legs by drawing 1-1 at St Mary's and then winning 1-0 in Denmark. Jess Thorup's side currently sit in third place in their domestic table, four points behind leaders FC Copenhagen.

HISTORY

The club was only formed in 1999, four days before Sir Alex Ferguson's men beat Nottingham Forest 8-1 away and in the same year the Reds won the Treble, but they landed their domestic title for the first time in 2015. Midtjylland have already won in Manchester during their short history, beating City 1-0 in 2008/09 before going out of the UEFA Cup on penalties after losing by the same scoreline at home.

STADIUM

Midtjylland host their home matches at the MCH Arena in Herning, a city on the Jutland peninsula of Denmark. Opened in March 2004, it has a capacity of 11,800. United are scheduled to play there on Thursday 18 February with the return match at Old Trafford coming a week later on Thursday 25 February.

PLAYERS PAST AND PRESENT

West Ham United's New Zealand-born defender Winston Reid, who was arguably Man of the Match in the last fixture at Old Trafford, came through Midtjylland's academy after moving to Denmark with his family at the age of 10. Finland's Tim Sparv, who had a spell at Southampton, and ex-Hibernian defender Francis Dickoh are two of the best-known current players in the Danes' squad. Sparv tweeted after Monday's draw: "Unreal! I'm actually going to play against Manchester United. The club I've supported since I was a boy. @EuropaLeague @ManUtd."

UNITED V DANISH CLUBS

The Reds have previously faced three teams from Denmark, all in the Champions League - Aalborg (in 2008), Brondby (1998) and FC Copenhagen (2006). United have won four games, drawing once and losing on one occasion - 1-0 away to Copenhagen after a comfortable 3-0 win at Old Trafford.