Group A
Arsenal secured safe passage to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) as Group A winners after a 1-0 victory over FC Zürich. A 12th consecutive victory at the Emirates Stadium equals their best win streak on home soil since 2009.
A heavily-rotated PSV Eindhoven inflicted a 2-1 defeat on FK Bodø/Glimt in their final UEFA Europa League (UEL) group match, but were ultimately unable to top Group A. Despite the Norwegians losing for only the second time in their last 16 European home matches, they still secured qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL).
Group B
With fierce rivals Rennes stumbling to a 1-1 draw, goals from Arda Güler and Willian Arão before halftime secured top spot and a potentially favourable draw in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.
Stade Rennais’ four-match home winning streak in all competitions came to end following a 1-1 draw with AEK Larnaca in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) - a result which consigns Les Rouge et Noir to second spot in Group B and a place in the knockout round play-offs.
Group C
A brace from Aitor Ruibal helped Real Betis end their UEFA Europa League (UEL) Group C campaign in style, as the Andalusians effortlessly beat HJK Helsinki 3-0 to put their already-eliminated visitors on just one win in 12 UEFA competition group games held outside Finland.
AS Roma made hard work of it, but the Italian side qualified to the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League (UEL), thanks to a 3-1 victory over PFC Ludogorets Razgrad.
Group D
Union Berlin progressed to the UEFA Europa League play-offs by snatching a 1-0 victory over Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, in what was a do-or-die encounter for the Bundesliga leaders. Astonishingly, it is the sixth consecutive group stage match for Die Eisernen ending with the same 1-0 scoreline.
Royale Union SG - Union Berlin 0-1
For the first time in history, Malmö went pointless through a UEFA group stage campaign after Braga inflicted a 2-1 defeat upon the Swedes, though it wasn’t enough to prevent the Portuguese giants from dropping down to the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL).
Group E
Manchester United and Real Sociedad had already secured qualification to the next rounds but goal difference would determine who finished first if United won in Spain. Elsewhere, Sheriff and Omonia were playing for third spot and a chance to enter the Europa Conference League knockout stage.
As it transpired, United won but only by one goal which was not enough to jump ahead of Sociedad into first place. Sheriff's win kept their European season alive.
Real Sociedad - Manchester United 0-1
In order to secure direct passage to the Europa League Round of 16 at Sociedad’s expense, United needed to win by a two-goal margin, and they made the most of an open start to proceedings.
Alejandro Garnacho became the youngest-ever non-English goalscorer in Europe, latching onto Cristiano Ronaldo’s through ball and driving towards goal, before firing beyond Alex Remiro’s reach.
The Red Devils probed throughout the first period with Ronaldo coming closest to a second, lifting the ball over Remiro and onto the roof of the net. Yet, despite being relatively untroubled, United had David de Gea to thank for keeping their lead intact, displaying sharp reflexes to produce a double-save at the end of the half.
The game, and indeed the group, remained on a knife edge as the hour mark ticked by, with clear-cut chances very much at a premium. The temperature then began to rise in the Reale Arena after a flurry of yellow cards were brandished, but still, the identity of Group E’s winner remained far from clear.
Casemiro was heavily involved in a late goalmouth scramble, but the ball wouldn’t fall for the Brazilian, and the passage of play was made redundant by the offside flag as Erik ten Hag’s side became increasingly desperate.
Ultimately, Sociedad remained resolute, defending their one-goal deficit, knowing it would clinch top spot in Group E and secure a place in the last 16 of a UEFA competition for the first time in almost two decades.
As for Manchester United, a potentially tricky knockout round play-off against the likes of Barcelona or Juventus awaits.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Sheriff Tiraspol - Omonia 1-0
Group F
All four teams could have qualified for the knockout phase from Group F heading into the last round, so there was plenty to ponder.
It could not have been closer! Feyenoord and Midtjylland both won at home to bring all four teams level on exactly eight points in the group. Goal difference meant that Feyenoord narrowly finished above Midtjylland in second and Lazio took third spot.
Midtjylland - Sturm Graz 2-0
FC Midtjylland progressed to the UEFA Europa League knockout stages for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign with their win over Sturm Graz.
All four teams in Group F had a chance of qualification heading into the last round of matches, and it was the visitors that occupied the second coveted spot ahead of kick-off.
Otar Kiteishvili looked to consolidate that position with two early chances but could fire neither on target.
He was left to rue those chances when Anders Dreyer fired the hosts in front with a clinical right-footed strike, after being teed up by Gustav Isaksen, and propelled Albert Capellas’ side into second place.
Kiteishvili was having a frustrating evening and received a yellow card for an outrageous dive inside the box right in front of referee Matej Jug.
Christian Ilzer's men were heading for relegation into the Europa Conference League and struggled to cause the Midtjylland defence much concern despite dominating possession after the interval.
This topsy-turvy group took another twist when Santiago Gimenez gave Feyenoord the lead against Lazio, which incredibly left all four teams with eight points from six games, each separated only by goal difference.
Sturm Graz had dropped to fourth and faced exit from Europe altogether.
Albian Ajeti wasted a golden opportunity to level the scores when he blazed a close-range strike over the bar, and it was a miss that proved very costly after Dreyer doubled the hosts' advantage. Isaksen was the provider once again, as his floated ball across the face of goal was tapped home by the former Brighton & Hove Albion man.
Capellas’ men knew that one more strike would see them top the group, but they could not find the extra goal to take first place, as Feyenoord secured passage straight through to the last 16.
However, a place in the knockout round play-off will still be greeted with huge enthusiasm after beginning the night in fourth. That is the position which Izner’s men occupy, as their European adventure comes to an end.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Anders Dreyer (FC Midtjylland)
Feyenoord - Lazio 1-0
Group G
Freiburg had already won Group G before the last round of fixtures but Nantes still had a chance to sneak ahead of Qarabag into second place if results went their way. And that's exactly what happened, Freiburg and Qarabag drew while Nantes secured a precious win in Greece at Olympiacos.
See the match stats and reports below.
Qarabag - Freiburg 1-1
Olympiacos - Nantes 0-2
Group H
Ferencvaros would progress to the next round whatever happened on the last day of fixtures. However, Trabzonspor could have still leap-frogged Monaco into second depending on how the Ligue 1 side did against Crvena Zvezda.
Trabzonspor did their best, grabbing a vital 1-0 win over the Hungarian side but it was only enough to finish third and drop down into the Conference League as Monaco thumped Crvena Zvezda 4-1 to stay second and remain in the competition.
