Olympique Lyonnais claimed first place in the Europa League standings after closing the league phase with a commanding home win over PAOK, while AS Roma edged into the top eight to secure direct passage to the knockout stage. Lyon sealed top spot with a 4 2 victory, recovering from an early setback before taking control of the contest following the dismissal of PAOK midfielder Giannis Konstantelias shortly before halftime. The French side capitalised on their numerical advantage in the closing stages, producing a late surge that confirmed their status as the competition’s most consistent team during the league phase and placed them among the favourites heading into the next round.
Roma’s route to qualification proved far more dramatic as they were forced to dig deep away at Panathinaikos. The Italian side were reduced to 10 men just 15 minutes into the match after Gianluca Mancini was sent off as the last defender, a moment that swung early momentum in the hosts’ favour. Panathinaikos took the lead midway through the second half, but Roma showed resilience to claw their way back, with Jan Ziolkowski scoring late to secure a vital draw that lifted them into eighth place. The result ensured Roma avoided the playoff round, despite a night defined by pressure and discipline rather than control.
Elsewhere near the top of the standings, Aston Villa finished second after a 3 2 comeback win against Salzburg, having already confirmed qualification before kickoff. FC Midtjylland secured third place with a comfortable victory over Dinamo Zagreb, while Real Betis climbed to fourth after defeating Feyenoord, a match highlighted by goals from Antony and Abde Ezzalzouli. FC Porto completed the top five after recovering from an early setback to beat Rangers, a result that ended the Scottish side’s European campaign.
Further down the table, the final matchday delivered heartbreak and relief in equal measure as clubs battled for remaining playoff positions. Nottingham Forest advanced comfortably, while Young Boys were eliminated after conceding a decisive late goal against Stuttgart. Several Dutch sides also exited the competition during a tense finish across multiple venues. As the league phase concluded, Lyon emerged as the standout performers, while Roma’s survival underlined the fine margins that defined a dramatic night across the Europa League.
