VALENCIA: ANOTHER TRIP TO SPAIN AWAITS



After being pitted against La Liga outfit Valencia, the Reds will take on a Spanish team in Europe for the third successive season – after beating Celta Vigo in the Europa League semi-finals on our way to winning the competition in 2016/17 and facing Sevilla in the last 16 of the Champions League last term.



United have played eight competitive games against Valencia to date, resulting in two wins, five draws and just one defeat. The last clashes came in the group stage in 2010/11, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Reds prevailed 1-0 at the Mestalla before being held to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. Valencia finished third in La Liga last term and were recently managed by United legend Gary Neville.



The clashes with Marcelino’s team will undoubtedly be special for two United players in particular. Juan Mata spent four years at Valencia, scoring 46 times in 174 games, before coming to England in 2011, when he joined his previous club Chelsea. Fellow midfielder Andreas Pereira also spent last season on loan at the Mestalla, where he scored once and registered five assists in 29 games in all competitions.



Fixtures: Home - 2 October, 20:00 BST; Away - 12 December, 20:00 GMT.