With only one matchday left to play, the fight for direct qualification to the Round of 16 and playoff spots is heating up, involving 28 teams. Matchday 7 of the UEFA Europa League has concluded, leaving the overall standings extremely tight ahead of the final round. These standings mean that 28 teams still have a chance to secure either direct advancement to the Round of 16 or a playoff berth.
The Top Eight
Lazio currently leads the competition with 19 points, guaranteeing their place in the Round of 16 with direct qualification. Eintracht Frankfurt sits in second with 16 points and a goal difference of +6. However, their 14 goals scored give them the edge over Athletic Club, which also has 16 points and a +6 goal difference but has scored only 12 goals, placing them in third.
In fourth is Manchester United with 15 points. Below them, four teams are tied at 14 points, but their rankings are determined by goals scored: Olympique Lyonnais in fifth, Tottenham Hotspur in sixth, Anderlecht in seventh, and FCSB in eighth.
The Race for Direct Qualification
Galatasaray and Bodø/Glimt have the best chance of breaking into the top eight. With 13 points, they are ninth and tenth, respectively. Close behind them are Viktoria Plzeň and Olympiacos, each with 12 points, making the final matchday crucial for their chances at direct qualification.
With slimmer chances but still mathematically in contention, Rangers, AZ Alkmaar, and Union Saint-Gilloise sit at 11 points. While direct qualification seems unlikely, these teams are in strong positions to secure playoff spots with a win in the final round.
The Battle for Playoff Spots
Teams ranked 16th through 20th—Ajax, PAOK, Real Sociedad, Midtjylland, and Elfsborg—each have 10 points. Although they cannot reach the top eight, they are focused on ensuring their place in the playoff round leading to the Round of 16.
Further down, the teams currently occupying the remaining playoff positions (20th to 24th)—Roma, Ferencváros, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş—all have 9 points. These clubs must secure victories in their final matches to avoid any surprises and lock in their playoff berths. Porto, sitting just behind them with 8 points, remains a serious contender for one of the playoff spots, looking to avoid a disappointing campaign.
With 7 points each, Twente and Braga, in 26th and 27th places, still have slim but realistic chances of making the playoffs. Behind them, Hoffenheim and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, with 6 points each, are mathematically alive but face daunting odds in 28th and 29th places.
The Eliminated Teams
With no chance of advancing, Riga FS, Slavia Prague, Malmö, Ludogorets, Qarabağ, Nice, and Dynamo Kyiv round out the bottom of the table among the competition’s 36 teams.
