Europa League quarter-final draw: Who Man Utd will face as they beat Real Sociedad and player avoids ban

Manchester United claimed a 4-1 victory against Real Sociedad on Thursday night which was enough to secure their spot in the last eight of the Europa League. The Red Devils drew 1-1 in Spain last week after seeing Joshua Zirkzee’s opener cancelled out by a penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal.

With United languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, the Europa League presents the club’s best chance to secure Champions League football next season. If United were to win the competition, it could mean there would be up to six English teams in the Champions League with the Premier League on course to be handed an extra qualification spot due to their strong UEFA season coefficient ranking.

Oyarzabal put Sociedad ahead in the tie from the penalty spot but after 10 minutes at Old Trafford but Bruno Fernandes scored twice from the spot to put United ahead on the night and in the tie. Jon Aramburu was sent off just after the hour as Fernandes scored with three minutes remaining to clinch victory. Diogo Dalot added a fourth in the 91st minute.

Who could United play in the Europa League quarter final?

With United advancing via a 5-2 aggregate win, French side Lyon await in the last eight. When the draw for the last 16 was made, the entire tournament was mapped out. It means the Red Devils will also know by late on Thursday who their potential semi-final opponents could be - if they reach that point of the competition.

Lyon lead 3-1 from their first leg with FCSB, and with the second leg to be played in France, the Ligue 1 club made light work of their second leg with a 4-0 win on home soil. United did beat FCSB during the league phase as they won 2-0 in Romania at the end of January. Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo scored within eight minutes of each other to secure the win.

Providing United get there, there currently have three teams who they could meet in the semi-finals. They are Rangers, Fenerbahce and Athletic Club. Rangers are drawing 3-3 on aggregate in their round of 16 tie against Fenerbahce with that tie currently in extra time while Roma lost 3-1 to Athletic Club to lose 4-3 on aggregate after winning the first game 2-1. There is the potential for an all-English final with Tottenham Hotspur on the other side of the draw to United. The Red Devils will play Lyon on April 10 and April 17.

Casemiro and De Light now on suspension tightrope

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro featured for United on Thursday due to injuries in that area of the pitch. The former Real Madrid man was the only current United player on two yellow cards but has now been joined by Matthijs de Ligt after he was booked early on against Sociedad. Both players will now miss the second leg with Lyon if they pick up a yellow card in the first leg. UEFA rules state that all yellow cards are carried over from the league phase into the knockout rounds.

They will only be wiped clean after the quarter finals. Any player who picks up a third yellow card during a quarter final second leg will be banned for the first leg of a semi-final. A player can only be suspended for a final, however, if they are red carded during the semi-final second leg.

In other news, Manchester United have reportedly made an early offer for a Barcelona defender as they look to get a head-start with their summer transfer plans.