The 2025-26 UEFA Europa League league phase concluded on Thursday with all 18 matches played simultaneously, determining the final standings and the path forward for 24 teams into the knockout rounds.
Olympique Lyon finished atop the league phase standings, with Aston Villa securing second place after their dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over RB Salzburg. Midtjylland, Porto, Real Betis, Braga, Freiburg, and Roma completed the top eight, earning direct qualification to the Round of 16 and avoiding the two-legged playoff round in February.
The night produced several thrilling encounters across European venues. Aston Villa staged a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down to beat Salzburg 3-2, with Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba scoring the winner in the 87th minute. Nottingham Forest demolished Ferencvaros 4-0 at the City Ground, with Igor Jesus netting twice to bring his Europa League tally to six goals in six games.
Celtic set a club record by racing to a 3-0 lead inside just 19 minutes against Utrecht, eventually winning 4-2 to secure their playoff spot. Porto cruised past Rangers 3-1, while Lyon hammered PAOK 4-2 to confirm their position at the summit. Roma provided late drama, playing much of their match against Panathinaikos with ten men but grinding out a 1-1 draw to claim the crucial eighth spot.
Sixteen teams will contest the knockout playoff round: Genk, Bologna, Stuttgart, Ferencvaros, Nottingham Forest, Viktoria Plzen, Red Star Belgrade, Celta Vigo, PAOK, Lille, Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos, Celtic, Ludogorets, Dinamo Zagreb, and Brann. Ludogorets produced the night's biggest surge, climbing from outside the qualification spots with a crucial 1-0 home victory to secure their place.
Twelve teams were eliminated from European competition: Young Boys, FCSB, Go Ahead Eagles, RB Salzburg, Basel, Feyenoord, Rangers, Sturm Graz, Nice, Utrecht, Malmö, and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The knockout playoff draw takes place on Friday, January 30, with first legs scheduled for February 19 and second legs on February 26. The Europa League final will be staged at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul on May 20, 2026.
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