The Europa League playoffs witnessed nail-biting action on February 20, 2025, as teams vied for the remaining spots in the knockout rounds. After decisive matches earlier this week, the stakes were high for those still hoping to advance.
At the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, AS Roma faced FC Porto needing to secure at least a win to avoid elimination. Having ended their first encounter with the scores locked at 1-1, the returning clash proved dynamic. With two goals from the spectacular Paulo Dybala, Roma clinched their spot, defeating Porto 3-2 on the night, which put them through with an aggregate score of 4-3. This victory showcased the brilliance of Dybala as reported by Lance, who noted, "With two goals from Dybala, the team of Claudio Ranieri sealed the qualification by sending Porto home."
Moving to Istanbul, Turkey, Galatasaray faced AZ Alkmaar with considerably more pressure. After suffering a heavy loss of 4-1 on the road, they needed to put on a remarkable performance at RAMS Park. The home team offered strong resistance, ending the match at 2-2, but it was not enough to secure advancement as AZ progressed with an aggregate score of 6-3. This tie led to Galatasaray's exit, marking another major club eliminated from the tournament with big teams like Porto also struggling, as highlighted by Lance.
Meanwhile, FCSB (formerly known as Steaua Bucharest) clashed with PAOK from Greece, entering the match with the Romanians leading 2-1 from their previous encounter. They maintained their advantage with another triumph, edging out PAOK 1-0, putting the aggregate at 3-1, and securing their ticket to the next round.
Bodø/Glimt took on Twente at home, needing to come back from being down 2-1 from their earlier away fixture. The Norwegians turned the tables with their powerful attacking game and managed to clinch victory 3-1, whizzing past Twente with their aggregate finishing 4-3.
Other notable fixtures included Viktoria Plzen versus Ferencvaros, where the home side boasted of 1-0 from the first leg. They managed to come out on top yet again, ensuring passage with another 2-1 win, bringing their aggregate score to 3-1.
Real Sociedad, trying to redeem themselves from earlier matches this season, faced off against Midtjylland. The Spaniards shined and displayed their football prowess, netting five goals for their home crowd, concluding the match at 5-2, which circled their aggregate to 7-3.
Ajax had to be on their toes against Union Saint-Gilloise after heading back from Belgium with their fate hanging by the skin of their teeth. Tied deep at 2-0 with time running out, Ajax responded with two quick strikes, finishing the match 3-2 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate, showing grit under pressure.
The drama continued with Anderlecht taking on Fenerbahçe. With the Turkish team showing dominance with 3-0 from the first leg, they maintained their composure and managed to hold Anderlecht to a 2-2 draw, sealing their progression.
The eight teams advancing from their playoff matches will join those who gained direct entry to the Round of 16 based on their performance during the group stages. The teams already qualifying include Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, and Rangers. This structure mirrors the Champions League format, ensuring every match holds significant weight.
The draw for the next phase will take place on February 21, 2025, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, at 9 AM (Brasilia time). Fans and teams alike will surely be eager to see who faces who as the competition heats up. With many surprises already, the knockout rounds promise more thrilling football.