Manchester United v Milan, Slavia Prague v Rangers: Europa League clockwatch – live!

“I’m surprised uUnited didn’t insert a clause in Dalot’s loan contract to stop him playing against us,” quibbles Peter Kingsnorth. “Even though he was never held in great regard here it would be a kick in the teeth if he has a great game…” Ominously, he’s in god scoring form at the moment, having netted in Milan;s win over Verona last weekend.

Want another Readers’ European Football Adventure? Well, here’s Stephen O’Sullivan. “On my many travels basically every other week, one of our lads did a pie league. he religiously bought a pie at every stadium. Then he rated them.” I can only assume Stephen’s network has collapsed and that he would otherwise have included the rest of that tale. Fair to say, following Matt Drake’s introduction of this theme, it’s 0-0 in the story stakes so far.

“Milan have the brothers Donnarumma in their squad today – and both are goalkeepers!” notes Peter Oh. “Wow, just imagine the battles around the laundry basket and the garbage bin in the Donnarumma household when the stoppers were just wee lads, discovering their respective calling in life.”

“Hi Paul,’ begins Matt Drake. “I once went to a game at Slavia Prague. It’s not pertinent to the game today, but at the stadium I purchased (and consumed) the worst slice of pizza I have ever had.” Anyone else like to share stories of their European football travels? Don’t be shy: as you can see, the quality control filter is set to not even slightly picky.

“[By beating Man City last weekend} We set the standard for ourselves as a group of players and it’s about how often can you reproduce that kind of intensity, concentration and winning the ball in the right areas?”

About Rashford’s ankle injury, he says: “Hopefully it won’t be too long but he’s not ready for tonight.”

Eleven countries are represented in the last 16, including Norway, with Molde the first from there to make it this far. With no clubs from Germany, France or Portugal, what should we glean from the failure of any sides from three of Europe’s supposed Big Five leagues to reach this stage?

Slavia: Kolar; Bah, Kudela, Zima, Boril; Sima, Stancu, Holes, Provod, Olayinka; Kuchta

Subs: Visinky, Deli, Vagner, Teci, Dorley, Hromada, Masopust, Kovar, Lingr

Rangers: McGregor; Patterson, Goldson, Helander, Barisic; Kamara, Davis, Aribo; Hagi, Morelos, Kent

Subs: King, Simpson, Wright, Ughelumba, Itten, Zungu, Stewart, Roofe, McLaughlin, Arfield

Here are the lineups:

United: Henderson; Wan-BIssaka, Bailly, Maguire, Telles; McTominay, Matic; James, Fernandes, Greenwood; Martial

Subs: Shoretire, Tuanzebe, Shaw, Williams, Fred, Grant, Lindelof, Bishop, Traoré

Milan: Domarunma; Calabria, Kjaer, Tomori, Dalot; Krunic, Meite, Kssie; Saelemaekers, Rafael Leao, Daz

Subs: Tatarunsanu, Castillejo, Tonali, Kalulu, Tonin, Gabba, Donnarumma

Hello and welcome to the beginning of the Europa League last 16 ties, featuring

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some intriguing match-ups. How about the seven-times European champions AC Milan against the three-times European champions Manchester United? Or Steven Gerrard’s newly crowned Scottish champions against Slavia Prague, the team whose impressive victory at Leicester in the last round denied Brendan Rodgers the pleasure of duelling with Rangers again? A little later we’ll have the latest instalment of Olympiakos v Arsenal, who can’t seem to avoid other whenever they go on European adventures, and Spurs versus Dinamo Zagreb. Here are all of today’s fixtures:

Ajax v Young Boys

Dinamo Kyiv v Villarreal

Manchester United v AC Milan

Slavia Prague v Rangers

Granada v Molde

Olympiakos v Arsenal

Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk

Spurs v Dinamo Zagreb.