Panathinaikos continue incredible run
10 - Bologna failed to hold onto their lead in their all-Italian clash with AS Roma, with the match ending 1-1. The hosts took the lead through Federico Bernardeschi, only for Lorenzo Pellegrini to draw level for the visitors later on. Rossoblu remain unbeaten at home in UEFA Cup/Europa League play, which is an incredible feat. However, that was their 10th draw in such matches in the competition.
2 - Roma will be relieved not to have lost what was always going to be a tricky match for them. It was a back-and-forth contest between two teams who know each other well, and now the Rossoneri will feel they have the upper hand at home for the return leg. In what was their seventh match against a fellow Italian team in Europe, Roma have drawn such a game for the second time (3-2-2), with the other stalemate coming at this stage against Fiorentina 11 years ago.
13 - Lille will have to do what they did in the knockout play-offs and try to overcome a first leg deficit as an Ollie Watkins goal saw Aston Villa prevail 1-0 in France. There was not a whole lot to separate the two teams besides the goal, which should give Les Dogues hope of turning things around next week. Lille have lost six times in continental play, something they have not in 13 years, when they did the same thing in the Champions League.
6 - Villa, who finished joint top of the league phase, are looking quite strong on the European scene. They have proven to be difficult to beat, evidenced by the fact that just one side has been able to get the better of them in this run. The Villans will surely be the favourites to move through, but should still be wary of their opponents. Unai Emery's men are on a six-game winning streak in Europe, the best they have ever done.
5 - A late penalty from Vicente Taborda helped Panathinaikos edge Real Betis 1-0 in Athens to take a vital first leg lead. Despite playing down a man for nearly half an hour in the second half, the Greeks held firm, netting the winner moments after Betis also had a player sent off. This will feel like a very good victory for Prássinoi, especially considering their struggles with Spanish opposition. This was just their fifth victory against LaLiga sides (5-8-21).
3 - Real Betis will have their work cut out for them in the return leg. They will be disappointed not to have made the most of the man advantage, having dominated the match in general. Last season's UEFA Conference League finalists will have to score at home next week, otherwise they will once again exit at this round. It is already the third time that Los Verdiblancos have been kept off the scoresheet for the third time this season's Europa League.
18 - Stuttgart suffered another home defeat, with Porto being the perpetrators on this occasion. A pair of goals in six minutes midway through the first half did the damage at the Bundesliga side fell 2-1. While the tie is not over, it will be a much sterner task in Portugal next Thursday. For the first time in 18 years, Stuttgart have lost consecutive home games in Europe, having been beaten by Celtic in the knockout round play-offs at MHPArena.
8 - Terem Moffi and Rodrigo Mora were the goalscorers for Dragoes as they stunned their opponents to continue what has been an impressive UEL campaign. The only team left in the competition to have lifted the trophy - back in 2010/11 - the Portuguese league leaders are now 90 minutes away from a first quarter-final in the UEL in 11 years. Porto have scored in their last eight games versus German teams in continental play.
Upsets highlight late games
12 - Javier Rueda's first half opener for Celta Vigo was cancelled late on by Lyon's Endrick as the sides drew 1-1 at Estadio de Balaidos. It leaves the tie in a fascinating position heading into the decider at Parc OL. Celta managed to beat the other Ligue 1 sides during the league phase, and were three minutes away from doing the same to Lyon, but faltered late on. The hosts have scored in their last 12 matches in European competition, which could be a good omen for them.
20 - Lyon were on top of the home side in the second half, enjoying 76% of the possession as they searched for the equaliser. In the end, Paulo Fonseca's men managed a draw, which is just the second time they failed to win in the UEL this term. Perhaps they were a bit unfortunate not to grab the winner, considering they mustered 20 shots throughout the 90 minutes, 13 of which coming in the second half.
24 - Hungarian side Ferencvaros continued their impressive run in the UEL with a stunning 2-0 defeat of Sporting Braga in Budapest. A goal in either half were enough for Fradi to prevail in what was a huge first leg victory. They are on the cusp of a first quarter-final in the UEL since 1971/72, when they made the semis of the UEFA Cup. Thursday's success also saw them keep successive clean sheets for the first time in 24 years.
28 - It is a tough situation for Braga to be in, as they had 70% possession but had less shots. Their return leg will be on Wednesday next week, and will need at least two goals to stand a chance at advancing. Clean sheets have not come easily for the Portuguese on the road in knockout round games. Since they last kept a side out in such a match, they have conceded a whopping 28 times in 12 matches.
4 - Nine years on from their other quarter-final appearance, Genk have a narrow first leg advantage. The Smurfs got their goal from Zakaria El Ouahdi as they edged Freiburg 1-0 in Belgium. With that said, the Limburg-based club will be disappointed not to have scored more, seeing they had nearly triple the shots in the match (17-6). It is another clean sheet though, their fourth in the competition this campaign.
7 - Freiburg have never gone farther than the round of 16 in the UEL, and will already have a more challenging task for them when they return home. Perhaps the only good thing is that they are only down by a goal in this tie. Before this, they had never faced a Belgian club in European play. Out of the now 13 defeats the Bundesliga team have suffered on the continental stage, it was the seventh time they lost by just one goal.
30 - Nottingham Forest have been beaten by FC Midtjylland at home for the second time in the Europa League this term. This time, it took a late Cho Gue-Sung goal for the Danes to see off The Tricky Trees 1-0 at the City Ground. Forest now face a tricky trip to Denmark to try and overcome this deficit. A side who almost scores at home in Europe, it is the first time in three decades in which they have been shut out.
11 - Midtjylland have stated their ambition of going all the way in this term's Europa League, and with their victory on the road, they will have reason to believe. Hedens Drenge scored the joint-most goals during the league phase, but it was their defence that got the job done. Their most impressive feat, however, is the fact they now have 11 away goals in the UEL proper this term, more than anyone else.
Follow all of the UEFA Europa League knockout round action on Flashscore.
