IT might not be the competition they REALLY want to be in but Manchester United and Arsenal are in the pot for the Europa League draw TODAY.
United lifted this trophy back in 2017 and five years later find themselves back in the second-tier of European competition – but Erik ten Hag's team are in it to win it.
While the Gunners are also looking to win it for the first time, having lost the final in 2019.
- Start time: 12pm BST
- Live stream: BT Sport YouTube
- Pot 1: Roma, Man Utd, Lazio, Arsenal, Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Dynami Kyiv, Olympiakos
- Pot 2: Feyenoord, Rennes, PSV, Monaco, Real Sociedad, Qarabag, Malmo, Ludogorets
- Pot 3: Sheriff, Real Betis, Midtjylland, Bodo Glimt, Ferencvaros, Union Berlin, Freiburg, Fenerbahce
- Pot 4: Nantes, HJK Helsinki, Sturm Graz, AEK Larnaca, Omonoia, Zurich, Saint-Gilloise, Trabzonspor
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When is the Europa League group stage draw?
- The group stage draw for club footballs second-tier European competition is set to take place on Friday, August 26.
- It is scheduled to get underway at 12pm UK time – 1pm local time.
- Istanbul, Turkey will be where the draw is being hosted which is where Liverpool famously beat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.
What channel is the Europa League group stage draw on and can I live stream it?
- The Europa League group stage draw will be broadcasted LIVE on BT Sport 1 in the UK.
- Subscription members of BT Sport can also stream all the action via the BT Sport app or BT Sport website.
- UEFA will be streaming the entire action from their official website too.
Can I watch the draw for FREE?
BT Sport YouTube are expected to be covering the draw for FREE to give all football lovers access.
- Matt Penn
Who could Man Utd face?
Manchester United could face a tricky Europa League group – including a tough trip to France for Erik ten Hag's struggling stars.
Manchester United – runners-up to Villarreal in 2021 – will be in Pot 1 as one of the heavyweights.
They will be joined by fellow Premier League side Arsenal, Lazio, Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Dynamo Kyiv and Olympiacos as well as Europa Conference League winners Roma, managed by their old boss Jose Mourinho.
The worst-case scenario for United would see them draw PSV – one of the sides to drop down from Champions League qualifying.
PSV are joined by Rennes as well as Monaco, Real Sociedad and Feyenoord in Pot 2.
Monaco finished third last season in Ligue 1 and were knocked out of Champions League qualifying by PSV Eindhoven.
United mayalso be drawn in the same group as Sturm Graz, the minnows who finished second in the Austrian Bundesliga last season.
However, the teams from Pot 3 and Pot 4 Ten Hag will be hoping to avoid include Real Betis and Union Berlin.
Credit: Getty - Matt Penn
When are the knockout stages?
Here are the rest of those dates for you. Keep an eye on May 31, as that's when the final will be held.
The Puskas Arena in Hungary will play host to next year's showpiece.
- Knockout round play-offs: February 16 and 23, 2023
- Round of 16: Match 9 and 16, 2023
- Quarter-finals: April 13 and 20, 2023
- Semi-finals: May 11 and 18, 2023
- Final: May 31, 2023
Group stage dates
Things are getting underway pronto this year.
As with the Champions League this season, the Europa League group stages are being wrapped up before the World Cup in Qatar.
- Matchday 1: September 8, 2022
- Matchday 2: September 15, 2022
- Matchday 3: October 6, 2022
- Matchday 4: October 13, 2022
- Matchday 5: October 27, 2022
- Matchday 6: November 3, 2022
- Matt Penn
Welcome to the Europa League draw!
Good morning and welcome to SunSport's live covergae of today's Europa League draw.
Buckle yourselves up Manchester United and Arsenal fans, your teams' group stage fate will be sealed this afternoon.
We know you want to be playing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but Thursdays will have to do for this season.
Jose Mourinho's Roma are also in Pot 1 with Arsenal and Uniteddx, as are Roma's rivals Lazio.
Making up the rest of the four pots you'll see the likes of Monaco, PSV, Real Sociedad, Ferencvaros, Nantes, Trabzonspor.
But all eyes are on Erik Ten Hag a nd Mikel Arteta's sides today.
Sit tight and enjoy – we all love a draw!
Credit: Getty
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