Europa League, the playoff verdict: all the teams qualified for the round of 16

Rome, 20 February 2025 - At the end of a disastrous two days of UEFA Champions League, Italian football breathes a sigh of relief at least in Europa League. The Roma, in fact, managed to get past the play-off round of the second most prestigious European competition, thanks to the success achieved at the Stadio Olimpico against HarbourThe 3-2 victory achieved in the return match ensures Claudio's men Ranieri the ticket for the round of 16, where the draw could pit them against Lazio o the Athletic Bilbao.

The return between Rome and Porto

Coming back from a draw in the first leg at the Estadio do Dragao, Roma e Harbour gave life to another match with a high adrenaline rate. If in Portugal it was the Giallorossi who finished the match with ten men, at the Olimpico it was the Portuguese who complicated their life with the expulsion of Eustaquio in the 51st minute. Before that, in any case, a brace from Paulo Dybala had overturned the result, which had been unlocked in the 27th minute by Samu Aghehowa. Finding themselves in numerical superiority, the home team managed the advantage and closed the qualification issue with the third goal of pisilliPorto's last gasp came only in the 96th minute, when an own goal by Rensch has lit for a few moments the flame of a possible comeback by the guests. The final score of 3-2, added to the 1-1 of the first leg, therefore rewards Roma who in the round of XNUMX will be able to draw one of Athletic Bilbao and fellow citizens of the Lazio.

The other qualified teams

This Thursday of Europa League saw eight matches played in total, equally divided between the late afternoon and the evening. In addition to the Roma, among the first to take to the field today also qualified the Bodo / Glimt, FCSB el 'AZ Alkmaar. The former beat Twente in a crazy match, dragged into extra time after three goals scored in the second half's injury time: two for the Norwegians and one for the Dutch. In extra time the Bodo / Glimt then prevailed, winning the match 5-2, and in the round of XNUMX she will face one of Olympiacos e Rangers. The Romanians of the FCSB They defeated PAOK Thessaloniki 2-0 and will face either Lyon or Eintracht Frankfurt in the draw, while the Dutch sideAZ They drew 2-2 against Galatasaray and, by virtue of the first leg victory, they have progressed to the next round and will face either Manchester United or Tottenham.

As for the 21pm matches, the Real Sociedad he took a single bite of the Midtjylland, knocked out 5-2, and will face one of the two English women mentioned above. Viktoria Plzen overturned the defeat in the first leg against Ferencvaros, knocked out 3-0, and in the round of XNUMX could meet the Lazio o the Athletic Bilbao. The Fenerbahce kept the advantage gained in the first leg to advance to the next round at the expense of Anderlecht, and finally Ajax, despite losing the match against Union Saint Gilloise 2-1, managed to reach the round of XNUMX.

Read also: Roma-Porto 3-2, Dybala show at the Olimpico and Giallorossi in the round of XNUMX