Manchester United's poor run of form against Spanish sides in Europe

Manchester United will be Barça's opponent in the round of 16 of the Europa League. Ten Hag's men will once again face a Spanish team, and the current stats are not in their favour.

In recent years, Spanish teams have become the Red Devils' tormentors in Europe. Since United won the Europa League in 2017 against Ajax, the British side have been knocked out of European competitions by Spanish teams every year.

In the season following their last title win, United were knocked out by Sevilla in the last 16 of the Champions League. A year later, in 2019, it was Barça who ended their European journey in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Sevilla were also their tormentors in 2020 after a one-sided defeat in the Europa League semi-finals; and Villarreal joined the list a year later, in 2021. It was perhaps the most painful defeat, as they lost on penalties in the final of the second European competition to the Yellow Submarine.

Finally, the most recent of all came last season, when Atletico Madrid knocked them out of the last 16 of the Champions League.

On a positive note, United did manage to win the playoffs against Real Sociedad and Granada in 2021 and Celta in 2017, although they lost to Real Madrid in the Super Cup that same year.

Now, as chance would have it, Cristiano returns to the Nou Camp. If the history of the last five years is to repeat, Barça would eliminate United in Europe for the second time in recent years.