OFFICIAL: Confirming 8 teams directly advancing to the Europa League Round of 16

In the early hours of January 30 (Vietnam time), the last round of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 league phase ended with numerous exciting matches, plenty of goals, and unexpected outcomes.

One of the biggest highlights was Nottingham Forest’s dominant 4-0 victory over Ferencváros at their home ground, City Ground. The English team, led by coach Sean Dyche, showcased a clear style of play, solidifying their position in the top group and aiming for higher goals in the knockout stage.

Equally impressive was Celtic’s 4-2 win against Utrecht at Celtic Park. The Scottish hosts exploded with four goals to secure crucial three points, while Utrecht, despite their efforts, couldn’t stop the flood of goals from their opponents.

Lyon continued to demonstrate strong form with a 4-2 triumph over PAOK. The French side played aggressively, helping them maintain their lead in the league phase standings after eight matches.

Porto also secured a convincing 3-1 win against Rangers at Estádio do Dragão. The home goal helped Porto maintain their top 8 position, while Rangers had to accept defeat despite their considerable efforts.

A major upset came from Ludogorets’ 1-0 win over Nice. The Bulgarian team played solidly and capitalized on their chances to defeat the French side, creating a big surprise in the final round. Additionally, Aston Villa staged an impressive comeback to beat RB Salzburg 3-2, while Stuttgart’s 3-2 victory over Young Boys was also a dramatic match with many late goals.

With 18 matches played simultaneously at 3:00 AM on January 30, over 50 goals were scored in total, averaging nearly 3 goals per game. The eight teams advancing directly to the Round of 16 are Lyon, Aston Villa, Midtjylland, Porto, Real Betis, Braga, Freiburg, and Roma.

The teams required to compete in the play-offs include: Genk, Bologna, VfB Stuttgart, Ferencváros, Nottingham Forest, Viktoria Plzeň, FK Crvena Zvezda, Celta Vigo, PAOK Thessaloniki, Lille, Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos, Celtic, Ludogorets Razgrad, Dinamo Zagreb, and Brann.

Other notable matches:

• Real Betis 2-1 Feyenoord: the home side staged a successful comeback.
• Lille 1-0 Freiburg, Midtjylland 2-0 GNK Dinamo, Sturm Graz 1-0 Brann, Genk 2-1 Malmö.
• Draw results: Crvena Zvezda 1-1 Celta, FCSB 1-1 Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos 1-1 Roma, Go Ahead Eagles 0-0 Braga, Basel 0-1 Viktoria Plzeň, M. Tel-Aviv 0-3 Bologna.