United handed long trips as Arsenal pull PSV in Europa League draw

Matthew Hill en Matthew Storey

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Erik ten Hag's Manchester United have been given a kind Europa League group stage draw

Manchester United will face minnows Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia in the Europa League group stage, as well as Real Sociedad.

The Red Devils face long trips to both Moldova and Cyprus respectively before the break for the World Cup in November, but will expect to progress through a kind group.

Sheriff memorably conquered Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in last season's Champions League, while Omonia are managed by ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon.

Arsenal, on the other hand, will face European regulars PSV Eindhoven, last season’s Europa Conference League quarter-finalists Bodo/Glimt and Swiss champions FC Zurich in Group A.

The PSV clash will pit the Gunners against old foe and former Manchester United favourite Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took over as boss of the Eredivisie giants this summer.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma, who qualified by winning the Europa Conference League last term, will face Real Betis, Ludogorets and HJK Helsinki.

Their city rivals Lazio are in a group alongside Feyenoord, Midtjylland and Sturm Graz, while Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kyiv take on Rennes, Fenerbahce and AEK Larnaca.

Elsewhere, West Ham discovered their Europa Conference League group stage opponents — we have all the details below.

2022-23 Europa League group stage draw in full

Group A: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Bodo/Glimt, FC Zurich

Group B: Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes, Fenerbache, AEK Larnaca

Group C: Roma, Ludogorets, Real Betis, HJK Helsinki

Group D: Braga, Malmo, Union Berlin, Union Saint-Gilloise

Group E: Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sheriff Tiraspol, Omonia

Group F: Lazio, Feyenoord, Midtjylland, Sturm Graz

Group G: Olympiacos, Qarabag, Freiburg, Nantes

Group H: Crvena Zvezda, Monaco, Ferencvaros, Trabzonspor

Did you know?

Arsenal have met PSV on six previous occasions, all of which came in the Champions League between 2002 and 2007 — with the Dutch side undefeated in the most recent three clashes.

Conversely, the Gunners will face both Bodo/Glimt and FC Zurich for the first time in their history.

Arsenal are unbeaten against Norwegian opponents, winning five times and drawing once, while they have triumphed in all six of their historical meetings with Swiss sides.

Manchester United have not conceded in any of their four previous meetings with Real Sociedad — they have faced no other side more times in their history without giving up a goal.

In a similar vein to Arsenal, United will have their first ever meetings with Cypriot and Moldovan opposition.

No English side has lost to a team from Cyprus in 16 prior contests, nor in four meetings with sides from Moldova.

Europa Conference League

West Ham have been handed a challenging Europa Conference League group with FCSB, Anderlecht and Silkeborg joining the Hammers in Group B.

Trips to Bucharest and Brussels will provide sterner tasks than David Moyes would have hoped for after making a disappointing start to their domestic campaign.

Meanwhile, last year’s Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal will be confident of progressing past Hapoel Beer Sheva, Austria Wien and Lech Poznan in Group C.

The competition — only in its second edition — sees minnows from countries including Armenia, Kosovo and Liechtenstein test themselves on the continental stage for the first time.

Vaduz, who ply their trade in Switzerland’s second division, have a trip to AZ Alkmaar to look forward to while lowly Pyunik will take on Swiss powerhouses Basel.

Scottish side Hearts face Fiorentina, Istanbul Basaksehir and RFS in Group A, while Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers are alongside Gent, Molde and Djurgardens in a tricky Group F.