Europa League: United face Sociedad, Arsenal draw against PSV

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Manchester United have been placed in the same section as Real Sociedad in Friday's draw for this season's UEFA Europa League in Istanbul, while Arsenal will face PSV Eindhoven.

United, who won the Europa League in 2017, will also meet Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus in Group E.

Real Sociedad qualified for Europe by finishing sixth in La Liga last season. They faced United in the Champions League group stage in 2013/14, while the Premier League side won 4-0 on aggregate in the round of 16. to the Europa League final in 2021.

Sheriff, the club from the Russian-speaking breakaway region of Transnistria that won seven consecutive Moldovan league titles, beat Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages last season.

Eliminated in this season's Champions League qualifiers, they were ordered to play European home games in the capital Chisinau - a decision taken by UEFA due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Cypriot Omonia Cup winners are managed by former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, who played for Manchester City as a youth.

Arsenal's draw looks a little tougher on paper, as they will also face Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt and Swiss title holders FC Zurich in Group A.

The Gunners' three rivals failed to qualify for the Champions League qualifying stage.

PSV, coached by Ruud van Nistelrooy, beat Monaco in the third qualifying round of the Champions League before losing to Rangers in the playoffs and qualifying for the Europa League.

Zurich beat Hearts in the play-off round.

Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho's Roma, who won the Europa Conference League last season, will face Spanish Copa del Rey winners Real Betis in Group C, along with Bulgarian champions Ludogorets and champions Finnish HJK Helsinki.

Monaco will face Red Star Belgrade, Ferencvaros and Turkish champions Trabzonspor in Group H.

Dynamo Kyiv, who lost to Benfica in the Champions League play-offs, will face Rennes, Fenerbahçe and Cyprus' AEK Larnaca in Group B.

Lazio and Feyenoord have been drawn in Group F, while Coupe de France holders Nantes — in their first European campaign in two decades — will face Olympiakos, Freiburg and Azerbaijan's Qarabag.< /p>

The group stage will start on September 8 and end on November 3, earlier than usual due to the World Cup in Qatar.

This season's Europa League final will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 31 next year.

See the full Europa League group stage draw here.