Catch up with the best of the action from the final matchday of the Europa League’s first phase
The Europa League follows a similar format to the Champions League, meaning all 18 games of the final league phase matchday took place on Thursday night.
While plenty of teams already knew their fate heading into the midweek action, there was still so much left to be decided between the 36 teams.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest had both already secured their places past the league phase, with the Villans going straight through to the last-16, and the Tricky Trees being forced into the play-offs.
Celtic were still playing for the chance to continue in the competition, while the likes of Porto, Real Betis and Roma were all hoping to finish the night in the top eight.
You can catch up with the best of the action, right here on 101greatgoals.
Celtic 4-2 FC Utrecht
Celtic secured their place in the Europa League knockout phase play-offs with a 4-2 win over Utrecht at Celtic Park.
The hosts made a fast start and took the lead inside six minutes when Benjamin Nygren turned in Kieran Tierney’s pull-back at the near post. Nygren was involved again moments later, pressing high to force an error that led to Nick Viergever turning the ball into his own net. Celtic extended their advantage in the 19th minute after VAR ruled that Dani de Wit had handled Auston Trusty’s header, allowing Arne Engels to convert the resulting penalty.
Utrecht reduced the deficit just before half-time through De Wit, before Adrian Blake’s long-range strike early in the second half briefly raised tension. Celtic responded quickly, restoring their two-goal lead when Trusty glanced Engels’ corner into the net.
The result eliminates Utrecht and sends Celtic through, where they will face either Stuttgart or Ferencvarosi in the next round.
Porto 3-1 Rangers
Porto sealed a 3-1 home win over Rangers to secure a fifth-placed finish in the Europa League table, recovering well from an early setback at the Estadio do Dragao.
Rangers struck first after six minutes when Djeidi Gassama headed in Findlay Curtis’ cross at the back post, briefly putting pressure on the hosts.
Porto responded with patience and gradually took control, levelling on 27 minutes as Rodrigo Mora finished from close range after winning possession high up the pitch. The turnaround was completed nine minutes later following a defensive error, with 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 William Gomes’ corner, giving the hosts a comfortable cushion. Rangers dominated possession after the break but struggled to create clear chances, allowing Porto to see the game out and confirm a top-eight finish.
Lille 1-0 Freiburg
Lille edged past Freiburg with a 1-0 home win, settling a tight contest with a stoppage-time penalty at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
The match was largely balanced for long spells, with both sides cancelling each other out through midfield and chances limited in the final third. Lille carried slightly more threat after the break, forcing several saves from Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, 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, Maximilian Eggestein sent off for a foul on Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Lille pressed with greater purpose thereafter and were rewarded deep into added time. Fernandez-Pardo was brought down in the area, and Olivier Giroud, introduced from the bench, calmly converted the resulting penalty into the top-right corner.
Lyon 4-2 PAOK
Lyon came from behind to beat PAOK 4-2, with three late goals settling a match that remained open deep into the second half.
PAOK struck first in the 20th minute when Giorgos Giakoumakis finished from close range after a corner caused problems in the Lyon box. Lyon responded through Remi Himbert, who equalised on the break in the 33rd minute after good work down the right.
The game shifted before the interval when Giannis Konstantelias was sent off for a second booking, leaving PAOK with ten men. Lyon took the lead after the restart as Khalis Merah finished low from the left, but PAOK levelled again through Soualiho Meite’s header from a corner.
Adam Karabec missed a penalty late on but made up for it with a composed finish in the 88th minute, before setting up Alejandro Rodriguez in stoppage time to complete the win.
Panathinaikos 1-1 Roma
Panathinaikos and Roma played out a 1-1 draw in a match shaped by an early red card 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 turn possession into clear chances before the break, with efforts from Bakasetas and Katris failing to find the target. Roma still threatened sporadically, with Pisilli 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 sustained pressure down the left. Roma responded well and drew level 12 minutes from time, as Jan Ziolkowski rose unmarked to head home from a set piece. Both sides pushed for a winner late on, but neither could find a decisive opening.
Real Betis 2-1 Feyenoord
Real Betis held on for a 2-1 home win over Feyenoord after a first half in which the hosts built a clear advantage and a late response from the Dutch side.
Betis started brightly and went ahead in the 17th minute when Antony cut inside from the right and sent a left-footed strike into the top corner from distance.
Feyenoord had chances to respond, with Cyle Larin and Casper Tengstedt both going close, but were punished again just after the half-hour mark. Antony again played a key role, delivering a cross that Abdessamad Ezzalzouli met with a close-range header to make it 2-0.
Feyenoord pushed harder after the break and were given hope in the 77th minute when Tengstedt scored from long range to reduce the deficit. The visitors pressed in stoppage time, creating pressure through set pieces and crosses, but Betis defended their box well to see the game out.
Full Europa League results
Aston Villa 3-2 RB Salzburg
Basel 0-1 Viktoria Plzen
Celtic 4-2 FC Utrecht
FCSB 1-1 Fenerbahce
FC Midtjylland 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Porto 3-1 Rangers
Crvena Zvezda 1-1 Celta Vigo
Genk 2-1 Malmo
Go Ahead Eagles 0-0 Braga
Lille 1-0 Freiburg
Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 Nice
Lyon 4-2 PAOK
Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-3 Bologna
Nottingham Forest 4-0 Ferencvaros
Panathinaikos 1-1 Roma
Real Betis 2-1 Feyenoord
Sturm Graz 1-0 Brann
Stuttgard 3-2 Young Boys
