Who’s in and What’s Next in the Europa League’s Next Stage?

The group stage of the Europa League is over, and we now know which teams have made it to the knockout phase. 

After an intense round of matches, 16 teams have secured their spot in the last 16, while 16 others will battle it out in the knockout phase play-offs.

Teams in the Last 16:

These are the teams that have advanced directly to the last 16:

• Lazio
• Athletic Bilbao
• Manchester United
• Tottenham
• Eintracht Frankfurt
• Lyon
• Olympiakos
• Rangers

These clubs didn’t have to play extra matches in February and will meet each other in the next round. The matches will take place on March 6th and 13th.

Teams in the Knockout Phase Play-offs:

These teams will face each other in two-legged play-offs on February 13th and 20th, hoping to secure a spot in the last 16:

• Bodo/Glimt
• Anderlecht
• FCSB
• Ajax
• Real Sociedad
• Galatasaray
• Roma
• Ferencvaros
• Viktoria Plzen
• Porto
• Midtjylland
• Union Saint-Gilloise
• AZ Alkmaar
• PAOK
• Twente
• Fenerbahce

Eliminated Teams:

Some teams have been eliminated from the competition. These include:

• Braga
• Elfsborg
• Hoffenheim
• Besiktas
• Maccabi Tel Aviv
• Slavia Prague
• Malmo
• Rigas FC
• Ludogorets
• Dynamo Kyiv
• Nice
• Qarabag

What’s Next for These Teams?

For the teams in the knockout phase play-offs, February 13th and 20th will decide who makes it to the last 16. The teams will already know who they could potentially meet next, based on their position in the group stage.

For example, Fenerbahce or Twente will play against Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht, while Ferencvaros or Porto will meet Roma or Viktoria Plzen.

Once the play-offs are over, the last 16 will be set, and teams will then face each other in March, hoping to move closer to the final.

Who Could Meet in the Last 16?

For teams already in the last 16, we know who they could face. Manchester United or Tottenham might face AZ Alkmaar, Midtjylland, Real Sociedad, or Galatasaray. Rangers, on the other hand, will take on Twente, Fenerbahce, Bodo/Glimt, or Anderlecht.

The exact matchups won’t be known until the draw on February 21st, where the rest of the tournament will be decided. This draw will also reveal the potential paths to the final, including who could meet in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Could We See a British Rivalry in the Final?

Manchester United and Tottenham cannot meet until the final. They finished in third and fourth place in the group stage, so they’ll be on opposite sides of the bracket. However, one of them could face Rangers in the semi-finals if things line up that way.

The tournament is heating up, and after February 21st, we’ll know who stands the best chance of reaching the final.

What’s Coming Up?

Mark your calendars for February 31st when the play-off draw will take place. This will set the stage for February’s exciting knockout phase battles. 

And after that, the March matches will be packed with more drama, excitement, and surprises as teams fight for a spot in the final.