The league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League has concluded, confirming the eight teams that have qualified automatically for the Round of 16, the clubs heading into the knockout phase play-offs, and those eliminated from the competition.
Lyon finished at the top of the standings after a commanding campaign, winning seven of their eight matches and closing the group stage in emphatic fashion with a 4-2 win over PAOK, despite disciplinary challenges.
Aston Villa matched Lyon’s points total and underlined their growing European credentials with a thrilling 3-2 win against RB Salzburg.
Midtjylland emerged as one of the standout performers of the league phase, securing third place after a composed 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Real Betis and Porto also sealed automatic qualifications, continuing their strong European runs, while Braga, SC Freiburg and Roma completed the list of teams progressing directly to the last 16.
Just below the automatic qualification line, Genk, Bologna, VfB Stuttgart and Ferencváros booked places in the knockout phase play-offs, joined by Nottingham Forest, Viktoria Plzeň, Crvena zvezda and Celta Vigo.
PAOK, LOSC, Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos, Celtic, Ludogorets, Dinamo Zagreb and Brann also advanced to the play-off round, ensuring a highly competitive next stage.
The final matchday produced several decisive results. Nottingham Forest delivered one of the most eye-catching performances with a 4-0 win over Ferencváros, while Porto claimed a 3-1 victory against Rangers. VfB Stuttgart edged Young Boys 3-2, and Genk wrapped up their campaign with a 2-1 win over Malmö.
Elsewhere, Celtic signed off with a 4-2 victory over Utrecht, Bologna defeated Maccabi Tel-Aviv 3-0 away from home, and Real Betis secured a 2-1 win against Feyenoord. Roma and Panathinaikos shared the points in a 1-1 draw in a match that also saw red cards, highlighting the growing tension as qualification places were decided.
Several clubs failed to progress beyond the league phase and have now been eliminated from the competition. Among them are Young Boys, Feyenoord, RB Salzburg, Rangers, Nice, Basel, Utrecht, Malmö and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, all of whom endured difficult European campaigns this season.
Teams Automatically Qualified for the 2025/26 Europa League Round of 16
1. Lyon
2. Aston Villa
3. Midtjylland
4. Real Betis
5. Porto
6. Braga
7. SC Freiburg
8. Roma
Teams Qualified for the Europa League Play-Offs
9. Genk
10. Bologna
11. VfB Stuttgart
12. Ferencváros
13. Nottingham Forest
14. Viktoria Plzeň
15. Crvena zvezda
16. Celta Vigo
17. PAOK
18. LOSC Lille
19. Fenerbahçe
20. Panathinaikos
21. Celtic
22. Ludogorets
23. Dinamo Zagreb
24. Brann
Teams Eliminated from the Europa League
25. Young Boys
26. SK Sturm Graz
27. FCSB
28. Go Ahead Eagles
29. Feyenoord
30. Basel
31. RB Salzburg
32. Rangers
33. Nice
34. Utrecht
35. Malmö
36. Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Europa League Matchday 8 Full Results
Celtic 4-2 Utrecht
VfB Stuttgart 3-2 Young Boys
Porto 3-1 Rangers
Lyon 4-2 PAOK (Red cards)
Crvena zvezda 1-1 Celta Vigo
Midtjylland 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Go Ahead Eagles 0-0 Braga
Nottingham Forest 4-0 Ferencváros
Real Betis 2-1 Feyenoord
Ludogorets 1-0 Nice
Maccabi Tel-Aviv 0-3 Bologna
LOSC Lille 1-0 SC Freiburg (Red cards)
SK Sturm Graz 1-0 Brann
Aston Villa 3-2 RB Salzburg
Panathinaikos 1-1 Roma (Red cards)
Basel 0-1 Viktoria Plzeň
FCSB 1-1 Fenerbahçe
Genk 2-1 Malmö
How the Europa League Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw Works
Teams are ranked based on their league phase positions.
Seeded pairs: Positions 9–10, 11–12, 13–14, 15–16
Unseeded pairs: Positions 17–18, 19–20, 21–22, 23–24
Play-Off Pairing Structure
9 or 10 vs 23 or 24
11 or 12 vs 21 or 22
13 or 14 vs 19 or 20
15 or 16 vs 17 or 18
Europa League Knockout Phase Timeline
Knockout phase play-offs: 19 & 26 February 2026
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final draws: 27 February 2026
Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026
Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026
Final: 20 May 2026 (Istanbul)
