Here, we take a look at how Eddie Howe’s side reached their first final since 1999.

Last week’s meeting of these European heavyweights outside the flagship competition lived up to the billing, with a chaotic clash in Catalunya ending in a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp.

A week on from the chaotic 2-2 draw in Catalunya, the European heavyweights go toe-to-toe in the return leg of the knockout round play-off at a packed Old Trafford this evening.

It was the first scoreless draw of Pauw’s 40-month reign – the team’s first since the memorable one against her home country of the Netherlands in November 2017 – and against a team ranked nine places above them, it has to be considered a steady start.

The 27-year-old made her Ireland debut in Wednesday’s scoreless draw against China in Spain, the first of five friendly matches in advance of the July tournament

The Newcastle midfielder has turned the clock back to 2020 and is searching for the right word to emphasise just how badly his career was unravelling at the time.

Raphael Varane says Erik ten Hag has brought confidence and discipline to a Manchester United side seeking to take the next step in their development by beating Barcelona

As neat and tidy as the Chinese were, they lacked punch when it mattered – unlike the USA team Ireland face next in April as their build-up to the World Cup intensifies.

Watching Barcelona and United play each other in the Europa League last week put one in mind of late-career Laurel and Hardy, reduced to playing provincial music halls to half full houses

Erik ten Hag picked the brain of Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of the huge Europa League clash against Barcelona

Barcelona will be without some of their regular starters for the return match against Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday

Former Ireland international John O'Shea has been confirmed as Ireland manager Stephen Kenny's new assistant coach. He will step up from his role with the U21s

The 29-year-old German is perhaps best remembered for the goals he conceded in former club Liverpool’s 3-1 Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid in 2018

Connolly admits she was too immersed in the euphoria of clinching a World Cup playoff by beating Finland in September to address the internal damage she had suffered.

Barcelona had paid €1.4m to the vice-president of the Spanish referees’ committee, the CTA, between 2016 and 2018. That was just the start and it’s not finished yet

West Ham manager David Moyes has the full backing of the club despite his side dropping into the Premier League relegation zone

The EFL says it would be willing make changes to the Carabao Cup if it meant reaching a new financial settlement with the Premier League

Manchester United fans are right to be concerned that their club could become part of a wider programme of Qatari sports-washing, Amnesty International has said

Graham Potter pressure intensifies, Newcastle’s goalkeeping nightmare and civil war at Leeds

Human rights key to Manchester United Supporters Trust