Europa League League Phase Final Matchday Overview
Thursday marks the conclusion of the inaugural Europa League league phase, featuring all 36 teams competing simultaneously to determine their final positions.
Qualification Format and Play-off Structure
The top eight teams will directly advance to the round of 16, while teams finishing between 9th and 24th place enter a two-legged play-off round. Teams below 25th position face elimination without the option to drop into the Europa Conference League.
Teams placed 9th through 16th receive seeded status and will compete against teams ranked 17th to 24th. Seeded teams gain the advantage of hosting the second leg at home. The play-off draw is scheduled for January 31st.
Current Standings and Confirmed Positions
Lazio stands as the only team guaranteed a top-eight finish. Several prominent clubs including Manchester United, Tottenham, Rangers, and Athletic Bilbao have secured at least a top-24 position. Seven teams, including RFS, Slavia Prague, and Dynamo Kyiv, face elimination.
British Clubs’ Prospects
Manchester United, currently fourth, needs a victory to guarantee a top-eight finish after winning their last four matches. Tottenham, positioned sixth, requires a win against Elfsborg to secure direct qualification to the round of 16. Rangers, sitting in 13th, must win their match against Union St-Gilloise and depend on other results to reach the top eight.
European Giants’ Situations
Lazio leads the pack with an unbeaten record and six wins. Eintracht Frankfurt and Athletic Bilbao need just one point to secure top-eight positions. Ajax faces a crucial match against Galatasaray to ensure their play-off spot, while Roma must defeat Frankfurt to maintain their European campaign.
Porto, currently in the elimination zone, faces a must-win situation against Maccabi Tel Aviv to have any chance of reaching the play-offs. Fenerbahce, under pressure in 23rd place, requires at least a draw against Midtjylland to avoid elimination.
Safety and Support Information
For responsible gambling support, contact the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133. Additional resources are available at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
