The Europa League league phase concluded on Thursday, confirming the 24 clubs that will continue their European journey and setting the stage for a decisive knockout run-in.
Eight teams finished at the top of the table to secure automatic qualification to the round of 16, avoiding the extra hurdle of the play-offs. French side Olympique Lyonnais topped the standings, edging out Aston Villa, who impressed to finish second. Denmark’s Midtjylland and Spain’s Real Betis also claimed direct passage, alongside Portuguese duo Porto and Braga. Germany’s Freiburg and Italy’s AS Roma completed the elite top eight.
Clubs ranked ninth to 16th earned seeded spots in the knockout phase play-offs, giving them a potentially kinder draw. This group includes Genk, Bologna, VfB Stuttgart, Ferencvaros, and England’s Nottingham Forest, whose strong home form proved decisive. Viktoria Plzen, Red Star Belgrade, and Celta Vigo also remain firmly in contention.
The final eight qualifiers, placed 17th to 24th, will enter the play-offs unseeded, facing tougher opponents as the competition intensifies. Among them are experienced European campaigners Lille, Fenerbahce, and Celtic, alongside PAOK, Panathinaikos, Ludogorets, Dinamo Zagreb, and SK Brann.
With the league phase now complete, attention turns to the knockout draws, where fine margins, squad depth, and tactical discipline will determine who advances towards Europa League glory.
