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Catch the best action from the final matchday of the Europa League first leg
This Europa League follows the same format as Champions LeagueThat means all 18 matchday games of the final league stage took place on Thursday night.
While many of the teams already knew their fate heading into midweek action, there was still much to be decided among the 36 teams.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest had both already secured their places in the league stages, with the Villans going straight into the last-16, and the Tricky Trees being forced into the play-offs.
Celtic were still playing for a chance to stay in the competition, while the likes of Porto, Real Betis and Roma were hoping to finish in the top eight.
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Celtic 4-2 FC Utrecht
Celtic secured their place in the Europa League knockout stage play-offs with a 4–2 win over Utrecht at Celtic Park.
The hosts started quickly and took the lead inside six minutes when Benjamin Nygren turned Kieran Tierney’s pull-back at the near post. Nygren was involved again moments later, pressing high to force a mistake which saw Nick Wiergever turn the ball into his own net. Celtic extended their advantage in the 19th minute after Danny De Witt handled an Austen Trustee header, allowing Arne Engels to convert the resulting penalty, VAR ruled.
Utrecht reduced the deficit before half-time through De Wit, before Adrian Black’s long-range strike briefly increased the tension early in the second half. Celtic responded quickly, restoring their two-goal lead when Trusty saw Angles’ corner into the net.
The result eliminates Utrecht and sends Celtic through, where they will face either Stuttgart or Ferencvarossi in the next round.
Porto 3-1 Rangers
Recovering well from an early shock at the Estadio do Dragao, Porto secured fifth place in the Europa League table with a 3-1 home win over Rangers.
Rangers struck first after six minutes when DJD Gassama headed in Findlay Curtis’ cross at the back post, briefly putting the pressure on the hosts.
Porto responded with composure and gradually took control, equalizing on 27 minutes as Rodrigo Mora finished from close range after gaining possession up the pitch. The turnaround was completed nine minutes later following a defensive error, James Tavernier’s loose touch allowing Francisco Moura to tap in from close range.
Porto added a third before half-time when Emmanuel Fernandez headed into his own net from a William Gomes corner to give the hosts a comfortable chance. Rangers dominated possession after the break but struggled to create clear-cut chances, allowing Porto to see the game out and confirm a top eight finish.
Lille 1-0 Freiburg
Lille won 1–0 at home to Freiburg, settling a tight contest with a stoppage-time penalty at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
The match was largely balanced for long spells, with both sides canceling each other out through midfield and limited chances in the final third. Lille carried a bit more of a threat after the break, forcing several saves from Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Etubolu, while the visitors remained dangerous on the counter without finding a clear opening.
The turning point came in the 74th minute when Freiburg were reduced to 10 men, with Maximilian Egstein sent off for a foul on Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Lille then pressed with more purpose and were rewarded in extra time. Fernandez-Pardo was brought down in the area, and Olivier Giroud, introduced from the bench, calmly slotted the resulting penalty into the top right corner.
Lyons 4-2 POCT
Lyon came from behind to beat PAOK 4-2, settling the match with three late goals that kept the game open until the second half.
PAOK struck first in the 20th minute when Giorgos Giacomakis finished from close range after a corner in the Lyon box caused problems. Lyon responded through Remy Himbert, who equalized on the break in the 33rd minute after good work down the right.
The game changed before the interval, leaving PAOK with ten men when Giannis Constantilius was sent off for another booking. Lyon took the lead after the restart when Khalis Merah finished low from the left, but PAOK equalized again through Soaliho Meite’s header from a corner.
Adam Karabek missed a late penalty but made up for it with a composed finish in the 88th minute, setting up Alejandro Rodriguez in stoppage time to seal the win.
Panathinaikos 1-1 Roma
Panathinaikos and Roma played out a 1–1 draw in a match shaped by early red cards and second-half goals. Roma were reduced to ten men after 15 minutes when Gianluca Mancini was sent off following a VAR review for a high challenge, forcing the visitors into a more cautious approach for long spells.
Despite their numerical advantage, Panathinaikos struggled to convert clear chances to gain possession before the break, with efforts from Bakasetas and Katris failing to find the target. Roma still threatened sporadically, with Picilli and Tsimikas testing Alban Lafont from range.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Vicente Taborda finished from a tight angle after constant pressure down the left. Roma responded well and drew level 12 minutes from time, as Jan Ziolkowski was unmarked to head home from a set piece. Both sides pushed for a late winner, but neither could find a decisive opening.
Real Betis 2-1 Feyenoord
Real Betis won 2-1 at home to Feyenoord after a first half in which the hosts held a clear advantage and a late response from the Dutch side.
Betis started brightly and went ahead in the 17th minute when Antoin cut in from the right and sent a left-footed strike into the top corner from distance.
Feyenoord had a chance to respond, with Cille Larin and Kasper Tengstad both going close, but were punished again just after the half-hour mark. Antony again played a key role, delivering a cross with a close-range header to make it 2-0.
Feyenoord pressed harder after the break and were given hope in the 77th minute when Tangstad reduced the deficit with a long-range goal. The visitors pressed in stoppage time, building pressure through set pieces and crosses, but Betis defended their box well to see the game out.
Complete Europa League results
Aston Villa 3-2 RB Salzburg
Basel 0-1 Viktoria Plzen
Celtic 4-2 FC Utrecht
FCSB 1-1 Fenerbahçe
FC Midtjylland 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Porto 3-1 Rangers
Red Star 1-1 Celta Vigo
Gennk 2-1 Malmo
Advance Eagles 0-0 Braga
Lille 1-0 Freiburg
Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 Nice
Lyons 4-2 POCT
Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-3 Bologna
Nottingham Forest 4-0 Ferencvaros
Panathinaikos 1-1 Roma
Real Betis 2-1 Feyenoord
Sturm Graz 1-0 Fire
Stuttgart 3-2 Young Boys
