After a thrilling final matchday across Europe, the group stage of the Europa League came to an end on Thursday. It is now time to take stock.By finishing first and second respectively, Lyon and Aston...
After a thrilling final matchday across Europe, the group stage of the Europa League came to an end on Thursday. It is now time to take stock.
By finishing first and second respectively, Lyon and Aston Villa have secured home advantage for the second leg of all their ties up to the final, which will be played at the Besiktas Stadium in Istanbul.
The top eight teams have qualified directly for the round of 16, thereby avoiding the additional demands of the play-offs scheduled for the final weeks of February.
The play-off draw will take place next Friday, 30 January, in Nyon, with proceedings getting under way at 12:00.
Teams qualified for the Last 16 (Top 8)
Lyon, Aston Villa, Midtjylland, Real Betis, FC Porto, SC Braga, SC Freiburg and AS Roma.
Play-offs
Genk and Bologna (9th and 10th) will face Dinamo Zagreb or Brann (23rd and 24th).
Stuttgart and Ferencváros (11th and 12th) will face Celtic or Ludogorets Razgrad (21st and 22nd).
Nottingham Forest and Ferencváros (13th and 14th) will face Fenerbahçe or Panathinaikos (19th and 20th).
Crvena Zvezda and Celta de Vigo (15th and 16th) will face PAOK or Lille (17th and 18th).
Eliminated
Young Boys, Sturm Graz, FCSB, Go Ahead Eagles, Feyenoord, FC Basel, Red Bull Salzburg, Rangers, Nice, Utrecht, Malmö and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Category: General Sports
