Kobbie Mainoo, centre, of Manchester United is tackled by Baba Alhassan of FCSB. Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo, centre, of Manchester United is tackled by Baba Alhassan of FCSB. Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo, centre, of Manchester United is tackled by Baba Alhassan of FCSB. Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo, centre, of Manchester United is tackled by Baba Alhassan of FCSB. Getty Images

Man United through as Lazio top table - what’s next in the Europa League?


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Thursday saw the conclusion of the group phase of the 2024/25 Europa League to finalise who advances to the knockout stage.

Manchester United's 2-0 win at FCSB means they are the only club to come through the group matches with an unbeaten record and they go straight to the last 16.

Despite a 1-0 defeat at Braga, Lazio finished top of the table ahead of Athletic Club on goal difference. The Italian and Spanish clubs ended with identical records of six wins, one draw and one defeat for a haul of 19 points.

An injury-hit Tottenham shook off their wretched domestic form to beat Elfsborg 3-0, while Eintracht Frankfurt sans Omar Marmoush following his €70 million-plus move to Manchester City, did enough to finish in the top eight despite a 2-0 loss at Roma.

Which teams advance to the last 16?

Like the Uefa Champions League, the top eight sides automatically qualified for the last-16 stage.

Top eight: Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiakos, Rangers.

Which teams will take part in the play-offs?

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

Which teams are out?

Eliminated: Braga, Elfsborg, Hoffenheim, Besiktas, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Slavia Prague, Malmo, Rigas FC, Ludogorets, Dynamo Kyiv, Nice, Qarabag.

Who meets in the play-off phase?

The teams who finished between ninth and 24th play two-legged play-off ties on February 13 and 20 to decide who goes through to the last 16.

The draw will take place on Friday at 4pm, but teams already know which sides they have a 50-50 chance of meeting because of their final positions in the league phase.

Teams also know the two possible clubs they could face in the last 16 if they progress through the play-off.

Fenerbahce or Twente will face either Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht, with Ferencvaros or Porto set to meet Roma or Viktoria Plzen.

Union Saint-Gilloise or PAOK take on FCSB or Ajax and AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland can be drawn against Real Sociedad or Galatasaray.

The specs

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Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

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About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

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Three ways to boost your credit score

Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:

1. Make sure you make your payments on time;

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3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.

FIGHT INFO

Men’s 60kg Round 1:

Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points 
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1

Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)

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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

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Updated: January 31, 2025, 7:55 AM