Europa League Semifinal Draw: Manchester United Vs. Celta Vigo, Ajax Vs. Lyon

Manchester United reached the UEFA Europa League semifinals with a 2-1 home victory over Anderlecht on Thursday.

Europa League Semifinals: Manchester United vs. Celta Vigo, Ajax Vs. Lyon

United defeated the Belgian club in Thursday’s second-leg quarterfinal with an extra-time goal from Marcus Rashford in the 108th minute to send the crowd at Old Trafford roaring. Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the hosts’ first goal with a low shot in the 10th minute.

Having won 3-2 on aggregate following a tie in the first-leg game, the Red Devils will next face Celta Vigo in the semifinals. United will visit the Spanish club for Game 1 on May 4, and host Vigo for Game 2 on May 11.

The other Europa League semifinal will feature Dutch club Ajax against French team Olympique Lyonnais. The two will play in Amsterdam for Game 1 on May 3, and then in Lyon for Game 2 on May 11. The final will be held in Stockholm, Sweden on May 24.

Ajax reached the last four of the tournament by defeating German club Schalke 4-3 on aggregate in the quarterfinals. The Dutch team won its first-leg game 2-0 at home, then lost 3-2 in Thursday’s second-leg game in Germany.

United have won the European Cup three times but have never achieved success in the continent’s secondary club tournament.

Ajax won the Europa League in 1992, defeating Italian club Torino in the final. The Dutch club has also won the Champions League/European Cup four times.

United manager Jose Mourinho won the tournament with Portuguese club Porto in 2003. Now, his Premier League team will face Celta, a club that has never won a major European competition.

In the Champions League semifinals draw, Real Madrid will face cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid, while French club Monaco play Italy’s Juventus.

Real Madrid is hoping to become the first team to win the Champions League trophy two years straight in the final in Cardiff, Wales on June 3.

Atletico and Real will play Game 1 on May 2 and Game 2 on May 10, while Monaco and Juventus will play on May 3 for their first game and play Game 2 on May 9.

Article by Pablo Mena