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.

The Europa League's inaugural league phase has ended with Lazio topping the table and Manchester United and Tottenham finishing in the top eight

A club of Manchester United’s stature should be good enough to win the Europa League, to conquer some of the continent’s weaker, less affluent rivals and give Ruben Amorim a major trophy in his first season.