Manchester United are the bookmakers' favourites to win the tournament for the second time in four years.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have only lost once in their past 22 games in all competitions.

They are the top scorers in this season's Europa League (21) with more shots (145) and efforts on target (52) than anybody else - and that was before their excellent end-of-season domestic form which saw them clinch a Champions League place.

Wales forward Gareth Bale has been left out of Real Madrid's 24-man squad set to face Manchester City in their Champions League last-16 second-leg tie on Friday...

Timothy Fosu-Mensah will be the 36th Man Utd player to play in the Europa League this season.

That's a record for players used in a single season in the competition's history.

BT Sport's coverage has just kicked off for the Man Utd game. Paul Scholes is chilling a bit awkwardly in a chair which looks pretty uncomfortable.

Owen Hargreaves' German accent is still brilliant.

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "It wasn't a 5-0 difference between the teams [in the first leg].

"We were winning 2-0 after 60 minutes and scored three in the closing stages, so we know we have to perform.

"There's opportunities for players to stake a claim, if they get through."

Tom: Will this second choice United midfield prove worthy of a runout? I hope so, but doubt it.

Over in Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk could well face a tricky last 20 minutes or so after defender Davit Khocholava was sent off.

The referee apparently gave a penalty for a foul originally but after reviewing it on the screen saw it was outside the box so awarded just a free-kick…He then sent the player off for a professional foul.

It's still 0-0 between Shakhtar and Wolfsburg but the Ukrainian champions are 2-1 up on aggregate.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

The big news around tonight's game concerns a player who is not even here.

Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United have been engaged in a debate about fees and deadlines for a transfer to take place that would see former Manchester City man Jadon Sancho return to the city and join United.

BBC Sport understands Dortmund are using the experience of trusted agent Marco Lichtsteiner to help smooth the deal through. United are negotiation with the club.

Speaking before today's game, former Manchester City and Arsenal defender Gael Clichy said it would be "special and tremendous" to face Manchester United in the Europa League.

"It's no secret I love England," Clichy added.

Image source, Getty Images

Around 20 minutes to go in this game and FC Copenhagen are up 3-1 on aggregate. The winner of that match will face Manchester United (assuming they progress) in the quarter-finals.

Antonio Conte's Inter Milan side come into this game against Getafe on the back of their best Serie A season since 2010-11 as they finished second.

The three-time Uefa Cup winners have six former or on-loan Premier League players (plenty with Manchester United links) - Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Christian Eriksen, Ashley Young, Victor Moses and Borja Valero.

This game, along with Sevilla v Roma tomorrow, are one-off ties being played in Germany because the first legs were postponed because of coronavirus.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark from Stockport: A pensioner now I have been a United fan forever but having watched Aussie rules footy (most exciting non stop sport on the planet by the way) this morning I don't think I am going to get quite as excited tonight watching this dead rubber of a match

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Premier League clubs involved in the latter stages of European cup competitions will be given a delayed start to the 2020-21 season.

Precise details around the calendar for next season will not be decided until later this month.

But it has already been decided in principle that all clubs should be given a minimum amount of time off.

Manchester City and Chelsea are in the Champions League with Manchester United and Wolves in the Europa League.

A 30-day period has generally been accepted, which would mean any club involved in the 'Final Eight' stages of the Champions League or Europa League will not start their campaigns on 12 September when the new Premier League will begin.

There's plenty of big teams left in the Europa League and lots of British interest.

Manchester United are seeking their second title in four years, while Wolves are bidding for their first European trophy in history.

Greek side Olympiakos - who knocked Arsenal out in the previous round - are in Wolves' way and drew 1-1 with them in the first leg.

A second consecutive all-English final (Chelsea beat Arsenal in Baku last year) isn't possible because United would meet Wolves in the semi-final in Cologne on 16 August if they both get that far.

Rangers - who are in the other half of the draw - look in the worst shape of the three British teams left in the tournament. Steven Gerrard's side lost 3-1 at home to Leverkusen in their final game before the suspension of football.

They are the only side left in the tournament whose domestic league never restarted. Rangers' Scottish Premiership opener against Aberdeen on 1 August - which they won 1-0 - was their first competitive game in 142 days.

Image source, PA/Reuters

Mic Medeska: Let’s say Romero gets United to the Finals. You think Ole learned his lesson or you think he plays DeGea?

Michael Reid: With United surely safe from going out, I dont see why Ole wouldn't have rested first team players. Why is Maguire or Williams (our only fit LB) even near this team tonight? Looks like poor mann-management to me. Players need a rest, Ole.

Where do you think it would rank in the most monumental blow-ups if United somehow threw away a 5-0 aggregate lead to not qualify for the quarter-finals tonight?

...

It was so long ago, you can be forgiven for forgetting what happened in the first leg...

But Manchester United have essentially booked their place in the quarter-finals after they thrashed LASK 5-0 in front of a crowd of 500 in Austria.

It was in a largely empty Linzer Stadion after the Austrian government had restricted the attendance in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Odion Ighalo's superb goal set United on their way, before Daniel James, Juan Mata, Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira completed the rout.

You can read the report if you want a full refresh!

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

To coincide with the restart of European competition, Uefa have published their protocols for the 'Final 8' tournaments in both the Europa League and Champions League.

A lot of it is what you would expect. Players and management will be tested either two or three days before the first game - and then again the day before each match - with the results delivered a minimum of six hours before kick-off.

However, there is strict guidance around what squads can do - and it doesn't sound like there will be much fun to be had in either Portugal or Germany.

"Team members (both players and technical staff) must not leave the hotel unless it is under previously agreed and organized conditions and does not involve coming into contact with anyone outside of their group."