BIRMINGHAM, England — The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the UEFA Europa League’s opening phase this Thursday, with six direct berths to the round of 16 on the line. In a format mirroring the Champions League, all 36 teams will compete simultaneously in the final 18 matches of this stage.
Only two clubs, Olympique Lyonnais and Aston Villa, have already secured their progression to the last 16, both sitting tied at the summit of the standings with identical records of six victories and a single defeat. This leaves eleven teams vying for the five remaining automatic qualification spots, while the intricate standings will determine which clubs must navigate a two-leg playoff.
The simultaneous kick-offs promise high-stakes drama across Europe. Key fixtures include Lyon hosting PAOK Thessaloniki and Aston Villa facing FC Salzburg at Villa Park. In a critical match for Bundesliga side SC Freiburg, who trail the group leaders by a mere point, a draw against LOSC Lille would be sufficient to advance. AS Roma, currently in sixth, faces an away test against Panathinaikos, while Nottingham Forest takes on Ferencváros at the City Ground.
Further down the table, Celtic occupies the final qualifying position and will battle it out with already-eliminated FC Utrecht. Scottish rivals Rangers are also out of contention for the knockout stages.
Amidst the sporting competition, a somber note was struck across stadiums to honor seven PAOK fans who tragically lost their lives in a minibus accident in Romania while traveling to support their team. Lyon expressed its profound condolences, and moments of silence were observed at matches in France and Greece, including at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon and in Athens during the Panathinaikos vs. Roma fixture. Players in the Lille-Freiburg match also participated in a round of applause to pay respects to the victims, as confirmed by UEFA.