The final matchday of the UEFA Europa League 36-team league phase provided exciting action as teams booked their spots in the last 16, while some settled for a place in the knockout phase play-offs.
English midfielder Kobbie Mainoo starred with a goal and an assist in Romania as Manchester United beat FCSB 2-0 to finish third in the Europa League standings and end the league phase as the only unbeaten team.
Mainoo provided the opener for Diogo Dalot on the hour mark with a powerful low cross across the danger area, before scoring his first goal of the season with a sublime finish from inside the box eight minutes later.
The result took United to 18 points, with Ruben Amorim’s men currently on a five-game winning streak in the competition, while FCSB settled for the play-offs having finished 11th.
⏹️ Job done in Bucharest — well played, lads! 🫡#MUFC || #UEL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 30, 2025
Elsewhere, Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen was on target as Galatasaray lost their only game in the Europa League this season following a 2-1 defeat at Ajax.
Osimhen struck a consolation goal in stoppage time for the Turkish champions for his fifth goal in six matches in the competition this season.
Burkina Faso international Bertrand Traore put Ajax ahead in the 23rd minute from a pass from Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom. The hosts doubled their lead through Kian Fitz-Jim in the 58th minute and eventually held on for the win.
Ajax and Galatasaray finished 12th and 14th, respectively, and will both require the play-offs to progress to the last 16.
Do you see your team? 👊#UEL pic.twitter.com/UdWfufyLWg
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 30, 2025
At San Mames, Nico Williams scored the opening goal as Athletic Bilbao beat 10-man Viktoria Plzen 3-1 to finish second in the standings.
The Spain international scored the opener in the 25th minute before Yeray Alvarez and Javier Marton scored either side of a Milan Havel strike for Plzen, who finished 16th and will require play-offs to advance to the last 16.
Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou’s depleted Tottenham Hotspur relied on their youngsters to see off Elfsborg 3-0 at home.
Goals from Dane Scarlett, Oyindamola Ajayi, and Mikey Moore, who became the youngest English goalscorer in European competitions at 17 years and 172 days, were enough to help Spurs clinch the fourth position and secure an automatic spot in the last 16.
Into the round of 16 🤩 pic.twitter.com/awGCDRtvPF
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 30, 2025
In Portugal, an early goal from Ricardo Horta helped Braga to a 1-0 win over Lazio, who topped the league phase despite losing their first game in this season’s Europa League.
Lazio’s city rivals, Roma, sealed a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to goals from Angelino and Eldor Shomurodov, while Nico Gonzalez scored the only goal as Porto beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 in Israel.
And breathe! 🥵#UEL pic.twitter.com/jWoQn3I0RW
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 30, 2025
