Off the again of an exciting UEFA Champions League night time on Wednesday, it’s now the flip of the inaugural Europa League group part to succeed in its climax on Thursday night, with all 18 matches kicking off concurrently at 20:00 GMT.
With a spot within the knockouts at stake, the ultimate spherical of fixtures guarantees excessive drama as groups battle for a top-eight end and a direct path to the Spherical of 16.
The British trio of Manchester United (4th), Tottenham (sixth), and Rangers (thirteenth) are all assured at the very least a play-off spot, however with solely 4 factors between them, every nonetheless has an opportunity to complete within the prime eight.
A late Bruno Fernandes purpose secured a 2-1 victory for Manchester United over Rangers final week, pushing the English membership as much as fourth within the standings with 15 factors. A win towards FCSB will affirm their place within the final 16, although a draw may additionally suffice relying on different outcomes.
Tottenham sit sixth on 14 factors after their 3-2 win over Hoffenheim. A victory towards Elfsborg will assure a top-eight end, whereas something much less may see them slip into the play-offs. Rangers, in the meantime, want a win and a beneficial set of outcomes elsewhere to hitch them within the spherical of 16 mechanically.
Lazio have already booked their place within the final 16, with 19 factors from seven video games, six away from ninth-placed Galatasaray. The Italian facet are the one crew assured of an automated berth, leaving the remaining to battle for the remaining seven direct qualification spots.
Second-place Eintracht Frankfurt, now with out €75m striker Omar Marmoush who joined Manchester Metropolis final week, stay on monitor after beating Ferencvaros final week, sitting second within the standings.
In the meantime, Ajax (sixteenth) and Roma (twenty first) can now not end within the prime eight. The Dutch facet should beat Galatasaray of their closing match to safe a play-off place, whereas Roma face a frightening problem towards Frankfurt after their 1-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar final week.
Elsewhere, Anderlecht, Athletic Bilbao, AZ Alkmaar, Bodo/Glimt, FCSB, Galatasaray, Lyon, Olympiakos, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Viktoria Plzen are all assured of at the very least a play-off spot.
Dynamo Kyiv, Good, Qarabag, Ludogorets, Malmo, Slavia Prague, and RFS have all been eradicated, with Slavia Prague vs. Malmo the one fixture with none implications for qualification.
With all the pieces nonetheless to play for, the ultimate spherical of the league part is ready to ship the drama UEFA had hoped for when it launched the brand new format.
Contact the author of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1738257165labto1738257165ofdlr1738257165owedi1738257165sni@g1738257165niwe.1738257165yrrah1738257165