Format, fixtures, more ]Premier League sides Manchester United (3rd - 18 points) and Tottenham (4th - 17 points) are two of the eight that will avoid the first knockout round. Lazio (19 points) finished top with Athletic Bilbao behind them only on goal difference.

NYON, Switzerland — Draw made Friday for the knockout playoffs round in the Europa League: Feb. 13 Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium) vs. Ajax (Netherlands) AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) vs. Galatasaray (Turkey) Midtjylland (Denmark) vs. Real Sociedad (Spain)

Manchester United and Tottenham put their inconsistent domestic campaigns aside and advanced to Europa League round of 16.