How Manchester United and Ajax reached the Europa League Final

Man Utd via Getty Images
Man Utd via Getty Images

Manchester United and Ajax will contest the Europa League Final having had plenty of drama along the way.

United were a John Guidetti miskick away from being knocked out by Celta Vigo at the semi-final stages, but are now just one win off Champions League football next season.

But Jose Mourinho's side will first have to overcome the vibrant youth of Ajax, with the Dutch giants impressing in this season's competition with a fledgling side full of attacking verve.

Eric Bailly will not be playing in the Final, but Chelsea loanee Bertrand Traore will be - and here's how both teams got there...

Group Stage

United hardly had the greatest of starts by losing 1-0 away to Feyenoord but a 4-0 win at Old Trafford against the Dutch side all-but sealed second place in Group A with a game to go.

Ajax had few problems in topping Group G as they went unbeaten against Celta Vigo, Standard Liege and Panathinaikos. The highlight was a 3-2 home victory over eventual semi-finalists Celta Vigo in November.

Last 32

Jose Mourinho's side made light work of St Etienne in the first knockout stage in a tie that will be remembered more for the reunion of the Pogba brothers. Paul got the better of Florentin as United ran out 4-0 winners on aggregate.

After a goalless draw in Poland, Ajax welcomed Legia Warsaw back to Amsterdam and edged through thanks to a second-half goal from Nick Viergever which sealed a nervy 1-0 aggregate victory.

Last 16

(Man Utd via Getty Images)
(Man Utd via Getty Images)

A trip to Russia was Mourinho's next assignment and a 1-1 draw away to FC Rostov gave United a crucial away goal - scored by Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Juan Mata scored the only goal in the return leg to secure a narrow 1-0 win in Manchester.

FC Copenhagen condemned Ajax to their first Europa League defeat of the campaign but Kasper Dolberg's away goal in the 2-1 loss gave them plenty of hope. The 19-year-old scored again in a 2-0 victory at the Amsterdam Arena to book a place in the last eight.

Quarter-finals

(Man Utd via Getty Images)
(Man Utd via Getty Images)

United were held to a 1-1 draw by Anderlecht in Belgium but were not made to rue their wasted chances after a 2-1 extra-time win at Old Trafford. Mkhitaryan scored in both legs but Marcus Rashford was the hero with his 107th-minute goal in Manchester.

Davy Klaassen's double seemingly put Ajax in command with a 2-0 first-leg victory but Schalke hit back in Germany to force extra time in the second leg. Daniel Caligiuri put Schalke in front after 101 minutes yet goals from Viergever and Amin Younes sealed a dramatic 4-3 aggregate triumph.

Semi-finals

Rashford struck again with a fantastic free-kick as United ran out 1-0 victors in Spain against Celta Vigo.

Marouane Fellaini's header put the Red Devils in control at Old Trafford before Vigo's Facundo Roncaglia scored to set up a tense finish. United held on to win 2-1 on aggregate.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Ajax were too good for Lyon in the first leg with on-loan Chelsea forward Traore scoring twice in a 4-1 victory in Holland.

(AFP/Getty Images)
(AFP/Getty Images)

Dolberg's opener in France gave Ajax an unassailable lead and they held on to secure a place in the final despite a 3-1 second-leg defeat.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.