WHICH SIDES ARE LEFT IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE?

Manchester United return to UEFA Europa League action on Wednesday night when we host LASK at Old Trafford.

The Reds head into the second-leg tie on the back of a five-goal away win from March’s reverse meeting in Austria.

With the remainder of the tournament set to be wrapped up in just 16 short days, it’s going to be non-stop European action.

But which other sides are still involved in the competition? And, excluding LASK, how much do you know about those 14 clubs?

Well, we’ve got you sorted with this special report, which first appeared in our Official Magazine Inside United

ISTANBUL BASAKSEHIR

Nationality: Turkish

Any history with United: None, the club was only formed six years ago after the local water municipality withdrew funding of Istanbul BB, itself only in existence since 1990. This is their fifth successive season of European football.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Basaksehir sealed their maiden Turkish Super Lig title with a game to spare, laying the ghosts of 2018/19 to rest, when they threw away an 11-point lead (the giants of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce finished outside of the European places this season). Topped a tough Europa League group containing Roma and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Player to look out for: Attacking midfielder Edin Visca has 12 goals and as many assists this season and is Basaksehir’s most creative player. Former Premier League players include Demba Ba, Gael Clichy, Martin Skrtel and lesser-spotted one-time Manchester City forward Robinho.

COPENHAGEN

Nationality: Danish

Any history with United: Drawn in the same Champions League group in 2006/07, United won 3-0 at Old Trafford thanks in part to a rare John O’Shea strike. Marcus Allback returned the favour in Copenhagen with a 1-0 win, in which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started up front for United.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Second to champions-elect Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga. FCK came through a Europa League group featuring Swedish rivals Malmo in The Bridge Derby and looked impressive against Celtic in the last 32.

Player to look out for: Former Hull forward Dame N’Doye continues to defy his 35 years. The club legend’s 120-plus goals in all competitions come at a rate better than one every other game.

OLYMPIACOS

Nationality: Greek

Any history with United: Drawn in the same Champions League group in 2001/02 and 2002/03. In the 2013/14 last 16, a clinical Robin van Persie hat-trick overturned a 2-0 first-leg defeat in Greece as United reached the competition’s quarter-final.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Greek champions for the first time in three years, having won 19 of the previous 21 Super Leagues. Third in a Champions League group containing Bayern Munich and Tottenham, they knocked Arsenal out of in last 32 on away goals in this competition.

Player to look out for: Goalkeeper Jose Sa concedes less than a goal every other game, the Portuguese stopper always ready when called upon.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Nationality: English

Any history with United: Plenty – 105 meetings (49 United wins, 20 draws, 36 Wolves victories) dating back to October 1892. The teams have already met four times in league and cup this season, mustering just three goals between them.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: In the mix for a Champions League place right until season’s end domestically. Began their season more than 12 months ago on 25 July 2019 in the Europa League second qualifying round, knocking out Torino, Besiktas and Espanyol en route to the last 16.

Player to look out for: Adama Traore. A game-changing winger who has added end product to a unique dribbling gift this season and has a telepathic understanding with top scorer Raul Jimenez.

SEVILLA

Nationality: Spanish

Any history with United: A late brace from Wissam Ben Yedder knocked United out of the 2017/18 Champions League in the only historical competitive meeting between the teams.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Back in the Champions League next season after a two-season break, the team from the banks of Nervion river were unbeaten in La Liga from February. The five-time Europa League winners comfortably topped their group and knocked out CFR Cluj on away goals in the last 32.

Player to look out for: A £13.5 million arrival from Marseille last summer, Argentine forward Lucas Ocampos has thrived in his first season at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, his 14 La Liga goals and industrious displays from the right-wing impressing many.

ROMA

Nationality: Italian

Any history with United: The 7-1 Old Trafford shellacking of Roma in April is as good a United display in our storied European history. The teams met four times in the 2007/08 season as United went on to lift a third European Cup.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: The Giallorossi lack consistency but on their day are a match for anyone. In the Europa League they’ve seen off Borussia Monchengladbach and Gent already in this season’s competition.

Player to look out for: Edin Dzeko has reached double figures in terms of goals in each of his five seasons in Rome since leaving Manchester City. Former United schemer Henrikh Mkhitaryan has also impressed on loan from Arsenal.

RANGERS

Nationality: Scottish

Any history with United: Surprisingly little, excluding Sir Alex Ferguson’s two seasons at Ibrox as a player from 1967. Four Champions League group stage games (in 2003/04 and 2010/11) have featured three United wins and a draw.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Runners-up to bitter Old Firm rivals Celtic in a Scottish Premiership decided on points per game. Steven Gerrard’s men finished second to Porto in a tough Europa League group also featuring Young Boys and Feyenoord, before beating Braga home and away in the last 32.

Player to look out for: Firebrand Colombian forward Alfredo Morelos is as likely to lose his head as score a worldie. The 24-year-old has six red cards in three seasons in Scotland, to go with 77 goals in all competitions.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN

Nationality: German

Any history with United: United may be unbeaten in six fixtures against Leverkusen, most recently winning 5-0 in November 2013, but it was the Germans who crushed the Red Devils’ Champions League dreams in the 2001/02 semi-finals. Oliver Neuville scored in both legs to take Die Werkself through on away goals.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: German Cup runners-up to Bayern Munich and already in next season’s Europa League group stage after finishing fifth in the Bundesliga. They finished third in their Champions League group, beating Porto in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Player to look out for: Laconic playmaking genius Kai Havertz will be one of the most sought-after young talents in this summer’s transfer window. Just 21, he scored 12
Bundesliga goals and assisted a further six last term.

SHAKHTAR DONETSK

Nationality: Ukrainian

Any history with United: A win and a draw from the 2013/14 Champions League group stage. Former United attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan won seven major honours with Shakhtar.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Cantered to a fourth successive Ukrainian title with five games of the season to spare, thanks in no small part to Golden Boot-winning Brazilian striker Junior Moraes. The Miners finished behind Manchester City and Atalanta in their Champions League group, beating Benfica to reach the Europa League’s last 32.

Player to look out for: A 24-year-old centre- back of rare maturity and skill who has already won 26 caps for his country, Mykola Matviyenko has been the rock in a back four which had the best defensive record in Ukraine in 2019/20.

WOLFSBURG

Nationality: German

Any history with United: Four previous meetings (three United wins, one defeat) split between the Champions League group stage in 2009/10 and 2015/16. Former United assistant Steve McClaren had a nine-month spell in charge from July 2010.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Fell away after a promising start to the Bundesliga – Die Wolfe were second in mid-October – to end up seventh. Wolfsburg finished second in their Europa League group to Gent and beat Malmo to reach the last 16.

Player to look out for: You can hardly miss 6ft 6in centre-forward Wout Weghorst. The 27-year-old Dutchman is a classic target man, dominant in the air and has scored 20 in all competitions this season.

INTER MILAN

Nationality: Italian

Any history with United: Most memorable of four past meetings was the 1998/99 quarter-final second leg in which United’s never-say-die spirit, and a late Paul Scholes equalizer in the San Siro, secured safe passage en route to the Treble.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Inter have led a three-team challenge to perennial Serie A champions Juventus in an impressive domestic campaign. The Nerazzurri were third to Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund in a tough Champions League group, knocking out Bulgarians Ludogorets Razgrad in the Europa League last 32. Coppa Italia semi-finalists.

Player to look out for: Former Red Romelu Lukaku has been in clinical Serie A form, with 22-year-old strike partner Lautaro Martinez likely to fetch big money in this summer’s transfer window.

GETAFE

Nationality: Spanish

Any history with United: No previous meetings, with this just Getafe’s third season of European football – they were UEFA Cup quarter-finalists in 2007/08 and made the Europa League group stage in 2010/11.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Another consistent campaign for the minnows who consistently punch above their weight. Second to Basel in their Europa League group, los Azulones upset 2018/19 Champions League semi-finalists Ajax to reach the last 16.

Player to look out for: Left midfielder Marc Cucurella, 22, who has made his loan from Barcelona permanent after topping Getafe’s charts for assists this term.

BASEL

Nationality: Swiss

Any history with United: A bogey team in Europe: United have won two, drawn two, lost two to the Swiss side. Few United fans will forget the 2-1 defeat at St Jakob Park which knocked us out of the 2011/12 group stage.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Currently third in the Swiss Super League with improved form since the league’s post-lockdown resumption. Knocked out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round by United’s Europa League last 32 opponents LASK, Basel topped their UEL group ahead of Getafe and saw off APOEL in the last 32.

Player to look out for: On loan from Brazilian giants Palmeiras, 22-year-old centre-forward Arthur fired 13 goals in his first 22 league games this season and will be desperate to get off the mark in continental competition to earn a permanent move.

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT

Nationality: German

Any history with United: No past meetings.

How they’ve done in 2019/20: Last year’s semi-finalists have struggled to replace departed 47-goal centre-forward pair Luka Jovic and Sebastien Haller. The Eagles finished ninth in the Bundesliga and reached the last four of the German Cup, but have looked stronger in a Europa League campaign which began on July 25, 2019.

Player to look out for: With four Bundesliga goals and a further 11 assists, left winger Filip Kostic has enjoyed his most creative season of his career.