The UEFA Europa League takes centre stage on Thursday as the competition’s second-ever league phase comes to an end. Two teams have locked down a top eight spot, while another 17 are guaranteed at least two more games.
Ten teams have a stressful night ahead, as they push to make the top 24. There are realistically just four spots left, leaving little room for sides to mess up.
Ahead of the final matchday, here is The Deck’s preview for each game.
UEFA Europa League: Matchday 8
Top Eight Hopefuls Put All on the Line
Kicking things off is the tie between Porto (14 points, 9th place) and Rangers (4, 32nd). The 2010/11 winners will need a big performance, with three points required to stand a chance at making the top eight. With that said, Porto does not have a great record against the Glasgow-based Rangers, winning just once in six previous head-to-heads (1-2-3). The Gers know this will be their last European match of the campaign following a disastrous run. Five defeats from seven in the competition saw their hopes of a knockout round berth end before kickoff last week. They do have a good record versus teams from Portugal (11-9-5).
A match with implications at both ends of the tables pits together LOSC Lille (9, 21st) and Freiburg (17, 3rd). Les Dogues still have work to do if they are to make it to the knockout stages. Fortunately for them, they do have a good goal difference, which could work to their favour. However, their record against German teams is poor, with just one victory in 11 previous games (1-5-5). While Freiburg has not absolutely guaranteed a last 16 berth, their place is all but confirmed. They head into the matchday as one of three teams that are unbeaten. They are also without loss in five over French clubs (4-1-0).
There is just one direct clash, where Crvena zvezda (13, 11th) faces Celta Vigo (12, 14th). While a victory does not guarantee either team a top eight place, it is required if they are to have any shot at avoiding the playoffs. Red Star has won their last four, all by 1-0 scorelines, catapulting them into knockout football for the first time since 2021/22. On that occasion, they did advance straight to the last 16 as well. Celta did beat their opponents away in the second round of the 2000/01 UEFA Cup, which helped them progress on aggregate. They have also scored in their last 10 away matches in Europe.
Olympique Lyonnais (18, 1st) has eyes on finishing first in the league phase, but will first have to beat PAOK Thessaloniki (12, 12th) at home. L’OL has continued their strong form from last season, where they finished sixth. They are the only team to claim a top eight spot in each of the first two Europa League campaigns under the current format. It is a pressure match for PAOK, who is looking to join Lyon in the last 16 without the need of playoffs. The Greeks did knock out Lyon in the 1973/74 UEFA Cup Winners Cup thanks to a 4-0 home win after drawing the first leg 3-3.
Maccabi Tel Aviv (1, 36th) has to role of playing villain in the story of Bologna (12, 15th) when the sides face off. The Israelis will be meeting an Italian team for just the third time ever after failing to beat Juventus in the UCL group stage 21 years ago. They are already out of the Europa League, but will want to end things on a high. Bologna, meanwhile, has a direct place in the last 16 in their sights. Victory is required from I Rossoblù, otherwise it is a knockout round playoff berth instead. They have won both of their last two away games in the Europa League, both ending 2-1 in their favour.
After being pegged back at the death last Thursday, FC Midtjylland (16, 4th) looks to lock down a place in the last 16 when they welcome Dinamo Zagreb. The Danes have impressed in this league phase, and are likely to skip the playoff phase regardless of what happens on the night. However, they will want at least a point to put it beyond doubt. Dinamo’s win in their last match has basically secured them a top 24 berth with a match to spare. It also ended a run of three games in a row where they were defeated. The Croats are 1-1-1 on the road so far in the UEL.
After losing away last Thursday, Nottingham Forest (11, 16th) has the role of playing spoiler versus Ferencváros (15, 7th) at home. The Tricky Trees have no shot at top eight anymore thanks in large part to that loss. They will want to finish as high as possible though, and be seeded in the knockout round playoffs. Fradi has been the surprise story of the league phase, where they are without defeat across the seven games. This is easily their best showing in a group phase, and they will want to cap it off with a win. In 11 previous matches versus English teams, the Hungarians are 3-4-4.
Two teams unbeaten in their last four continental outings, Panathinaikos (11, 19th) and AS Roma (15, 6th), square off. The Greek side has drawn their last two, which is a large part of why they cannot finish higher than a playoff spot. The good news for them is that they have beaten Roma on both previous occasions, knocking them out of the 2009/10 competition. That also coincides with their best-ever run in the UEL. Roma has truly come alive, rattling four victories on the spin to set themself up with a chance at making the last 16 without needing the playoffs. The Giallorossi have won all three away matches in the tournament this term.
With three wins in their last four, Genk (13, 10th) has a chance to make the top eight, but will first have to get past an already eliminated Malmö (1, 35th). The Smurfs did prevail in this exact fixture seven years ago, as they topped their section. A similar result will be required from them, and they might want to improve their goal difference in the process. Malmö will be playing their last European match of the season following a nightmarish campaign. Just one point picked up from their opening seven has them in this position, having scored the joint-second fewest goals with three.
Knockout Round Spots Up for Grabs
It will be a fascinating encounter in Spain, where Real Betis (14, 8th) plays Feyenoord (6, 26th). The Spaniards will need to get back to winning ways following their reverse last week in Greece, which was their first defeat of the league phase. Should they prevail at home, it should be enough for them to make the round of 16 directly. The pressure mounts for Feyenoord, who has no room for error. While they did end a three-game losing streak at home last Thursday, they are still in need of three more points as well as some help. Their away form is not great though, as they are winless in eight with five straight defeats (0-2-6).
Aston Villa (18, 2nd) concludes a successful league phase at home against RB Salzburg (6, 28th). The Premier League outfit has successfully negotiated the UEL league phase at the first attempt, already locking up a place in the top eight. It is a matter of finishing as high as possible. They can even finish top of the league phase with a positive result. In contrast, there is much more on the line for Salzburg, who kept their hopes of knockout round football alive last time out. Anything less than three points at Villa Park, however, will end their continental run. They have never beaten an English team in Europe (0-2-6), which is not a promising sign.
Needing three points to get past this stage, Celtic (8, 24th) hosts Utrecht (1, 34th). The Hoops have already defeated Dutch opposition this season, beating Feyenoord away back on matchday 5. This is a match with much more pressure though, as anything less than a win will almost surely knock them out. They do not have positive memories against Utrecht, who knocked them out of Europe in the 2011/12 UEL playoff round. Speaking of the Eredivisie outfit, they are out to play spoilers since they can no longer qualify. Having lost six of their seven games, they still await their maiden victory in the UEL proper.
One of Thursday’s fascinating ties will come in Switzerland, where Basel (6, 29th) meets Viktoria Plzeň (11, 17th). Last season’s Swiss champions have endured a difficult return to the UEL, losing five of seven matches. Last week’s reverse in particular will have surely left them sour, considering the massive opportunity at hand. They still have a chance to move on, but must find three points. Plzeň will not make the top eight despite having an unbeaten record in this year’s competition. The problem for them is that five of the seven games ended drawn, resulting in them being in midtable. It is a matter of finishing as high as possible.
Ludogorets (7, 25th) faces a massive match, where they welcome OGC Nice (3, 33rd). The Bulgarians have scored thrice in each of their last two home ties in Europe, winning one and drawing the other. Victory is needed for them to move past this stage, something they have not done since 2019/20. Anything less will see them join their opponents in an early elimination. Nice’s European campaign will be over following the match, but Les Aiglons will want to end things on a high. Last week’s victory ended a lengthy run without a win in Europe. This is the first time they will have a Bulgarian team in Europe as well.
Due to last week’s result, Sturm Graz (4, 31st) heads into their game against Brann (9, 22nd) with the goal of causing some chaos. The Austrian outfit has once again disappointed in a group phase, leading to their immediate elimination. All four of their points have come at home though, which could be a good omen for them. Brann, meanwhile, will need at least one point to get past this stage without having to look over their shoulder. The Norwegians claimed what could be a huge point in the dying moments of their last match, putting them on the precipice of of knockout football for the first time since the UEFA Cup days.
FCSB (6, 29th) can seldom afford a slip-up in their match versus Fenerbahçe (11, 18th). The Romanians have one last shot to make it through, though they might have to win by a large scoreline given their goal difference. In four previous matches against Fener, they have won just once (1-1-2). Despite having also lost last week, the Turkish side is already assured a place in the knockout rounds. The only difference here is that they can no longer reach the top eight. It is just a matter of taking win with them so they can finish as high up as possible. Fener has kept a clean sheet in their last two away matches in Europe.
For the second season in a row, Stuttgart (12, 13th) takes on Young Boys (9, 23rd). The Bundesliga side still can dream of a top eight berth, but require three points plus some help. They did win this fixture in the UCL last season by a 5-1 scoreline. A similar result on Thursday will considerably increase their chances at skipping the knockout round playoffs. For Young Boys, they remain in the top 24 for now, but defeat in Germany will likely end their continental season. In 15 all-time European matches against German opposition, the Bern-based club has just three wins (3-3-9), though one of them did come against Stuttgart.
We end with our pick for tie of the round, where Go Ahead Eagles (9, 30th) looks to progress at home to Sporting Braga (15, 16, 5th). There is a lot on the line here from a UEFA coefficient perspective, especially for the hosts. Winners of the KNVB Beker last season, Kowet have no more room for error, having lost their last four. Only victory will do for them here, and preferably by a high score. Braga, on the other hand, already faced Dutch opposition when they started things off with a 1-0 success over Feyenoord. It improved their record to 4-1-2 versus Eredivisie sides. A point will send them into the last 16, completing an impressive turnaround from last term.
