THE Europa League league phase has concluded after a thrilling finale.
Manchester United finished 3rd in the table and automatically progressed to the last-16 following a 2-0 win away at FCSB.
Tottenham also finished the league phase in the top eight after a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Elfsborg.
Rangers claimed 8th spot by the skin of their teeth on goal difference and are the final team to automatically progress to the last 16.
- TV channel: TNT Sports (various)
- Live stream: discovery+
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Ruben still keeping it real
Speaking with BT Sports after the match, the Red Devils’ manager gave his view on his team’s performance tonight:
I think we control very well the game. We had a lot of possession but the opponents is not the same as the Premier League. We had a lot of time to think. The lads did a good job, clean sheet again and we created some chances. We have to score more goals. We made them chase the ball a lot in the first-half. In the second-half the opponent got tired and it was easier for the players who came on.
Ruben Amorim
Rangers ensure Scottish journey continues
There was only an outside chance of Rangers finishing in the top eight this evening, needing other results to go their way.
Clement made sure his side were focussed on getting their job done by beating Union SG this evening.
The visitors caused them a lot of problems but they dug deep and saw the game out to grab all three points.
Add to that, they got their rewards as they sneaked into the automatic qualification places to ensure there is no two-legged playoff to deal with.
Credit: PA Captain’s delight
Rangers skipper James Tavernier revealed he had no idea his side were in eighth spot until after the full time whistle.
But he’s delighted they did sneak in and reckons taking time off when others have play off games will suit them.
He told TNT Sports: “We conceded a goal which we know as a team we should do a lot better. It made it closer. Delighted for the team and we sneaked into the top eight. We didn’t have a clue until the end.
“I’m happy to play a part for the team wherever I’m asked by the manager I’ve still got the legs to go up and down the right wing.
“You want to compete against the best, European football is getting harder and harder each year and you want to test yourself.
“We’ll take the weeks off, we can work hard on the training ground and properly train now. Delighted we can save those couple of weeks.”
Boss reserved in victory as progress secured
Speaking with BT Sport after the game, the Spurs manager gave his views on the performance and answered whether they would be active in the remainder of the transfer window:
Yeh am really pleased. The objective was to try and win today and secure our top eight spot. It took a while to get our goal but yeh a good victory. We shouldn’t lose sight that we had a couple of 18-year-olds out there which is good for the club. We have a big week coming up so it was all about managing the players. People at the club are working hard to see if we can do some business.
Ange Postecoglou
Ange-l delight in North London
For the majority of the game this evening, it was all more of the same from Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs.
They dominated the game from start to finish, with 81% possession and 21 shots during the course of the game.
It took until the 70th minute for them to break the deadlock but once they did, the visitors looked dead on their feet.
Goals from Scarlett, Ajayi and Moore gave the fans something to celebrate as they book their place in the last 16.
However, the one blot on the landscape was the injury to Dragusin.
There may be a sign outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow……..defenders required, apply within.
Credit: EPA Red Devils get job done on the road
Man Utd made it back-to-back wins in all competitions as they ran out two-nil winners in Romania.
Goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo saw them secure their place in the top eight.
Some positive vibes for the long-suffering fans with this competition offering their only realistic chance of securing Champions League football next season.
Credit: Getty Potential opponents – CONFIRMED
So, what does that mean for the British sides moving into tomorrow’s draw?
Well none of the three have to contend with the play-off round, so that’s a huge weight lifted off those three sides.
And they’re all seeded in the round of 16, meaning second legs at home.
Manchester United and Tottenham finish the league phase in 3rd and 4th so have the same four potential opponents in the round of 16.
- Man Utd potential opponents: Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ, Midtjylland
- Tottenham potential opponents: Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ, Midtjylland
- Rangers potential opponents: Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, Twente, Fenerbahce
FT from Craig Mahood watching Rangers vs Union SG
Wow, wow, wow. Ibrox has seen some incredible nights and sensational atmospheres on Thursdays in Europe.
This right now is right up there with them. How on earth have they snatched the eighth spot??
The fans didn’t know about it for quite some time and it was in jeopardy with one more goal conceded here or one other in two of the other games going on potentially ruining it.
But Gers did their bit and the noise continued to erupt after the full time whistle as news filtered through.
A quite stunning achievement from Philippe Clement and his side given where they started the night and now they avoid those dreaded play off spots!
Perfect night for British sides
All three British teams have secured places in the top eight in the Europa League final table.
Rangers had a nervy end to the game as Union SG wasted a number of really good chances to get something out of the game and steal their automatic qualification spot.
Man Utd had a comfortable 2-0 victory against FCSB to add some positivity to their gloomy season.
Tottenham ran out 3-0 winners against Elfsborg with their youngsters digging them out of a hole in North London.
Full time from Dan King at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Spurs fans caught up in the train delays had plenty of time to Google some of the players on their bench.
But they all know who Oyindamola Ajayi is now. In a season where Tottenham have had to ask boys to do men’s jobs.
Ajayi, 19, came off the bench and scored on his senior debut to put this game beyond doubt. And the one-two he played was with Dane Scarlett, scorer of the crucial first goal after coming on for latest injury victim Radu Dragusin.
Scarlett, 20, was recalled from loan at Oxford because of a lack of game time. He scored within four minutes of his introduction here. Tottenham ended the game with four teenagers on the pitch, and one of them Mikey Moore made it 3-0 deep in stoppage time.
There’s plenty still to play for in the cups for Spurs this season and whatever happens, the kids are all right.
FT: Midtjylland 2-2 Fenerbahce
A late goal from Byskov salvages a draw for the hosts.
Jose Mourinho’s side have just about managed to hold onto 24th spot, the last play-off place as a result.
That may have kept the ‘not so special one’ in a job.
He looks overjoyed as that reality sinks in.
Credit: Getty Tottenham 3-0 Elfsborg
90+4. We have seen two rare occurances in North London.
Firstly Moore scores his first senior goal for the club.
Then the camera pans onto, wait for it, Postecoglou smiling on the touchline.
His face will be aching tomorrow, it has been a while since he has had reason to pull one of those out of the bag.
Goal – Mikey Moore (Tottenham)
Rangers 2-1 Union SG
90+2. Wow, it is anxiety central at Ibrox right now.
The visitors get a ball into the box and it drops to Rodriguez who puts it over the bar from six yards out.
Had that gone in, Union SG would have replaced Rangers in the top eight.
By the way..
Kevin Mac Allister is 100% a Scottish name. I’m not having him being Argentinian.
Kevin McAllister (close) played for Falkirk, Chelsea, Hibernian, and Albion Rovers in the 1990s, including playing for the Bairns in their Scottish Cup final defeat to Kilmarnock.
Knowledge.
Anderlecht 3-4 Hoffenheim
90+1. What a game this one is.
The Belgian side came into this hoping to secure a top eight spot and that has not gone according to plan.
However, they have just scored a late goal hoping to still get something out of this match.
Same opponents?
In third and fourth as things stand, Manchester United and Tottenham will currently have the same four potential opponents.
As it stands they are; Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Porto, Union SG.
Rangers 2-1 Union SG
85. Nervy times at Ibrox as the visitors pull one back.
As a cross is swung into the box, Kevin Mac Allister is left home alone in the middle to head home.
He is the older brother of Liverpool midfielder Alexis who is probably in ann airport departure lounge somewhere wondering where he is.
Tottenham 2-0 Elfsborg
87. Tottenham defend their one goal lead in the only way how they know, score a second goal.
Another youngster is on the scoresheet as Ajayi finds the back of the net.
That will put some minds at rest in North London.
Goal – Damola Ajayi (Tottenham)
Tottenham 1-0 Elfsborg
84. As this result stands, it is job done for Spurs.
The big question is, do they even have it in their locker to just shut up shop and manage this game.
It is not the Tottenham vibe really, so we can expect everyone charging forward with no care for defending whatsoever.
Rangers 2-0 Union SG
77. It is nice to see the Rangers fans living their best life and not paying attention to their mobile phones.
The downside to that is they are oblivious to the fact they have now moved into the top eight on goal difference.
That is all down to Nice equalising against Bodo/Glimt.
Credit: PA Well, well, well
As things stand, Rangers are INTO the top eight!
It would be quite incredible if all three British sides were to reach that top eight.
United are 3rd, Spurs 4th and Rangers into 8th. Remarkable.
Potential opponents
- Man Utd: Ro16 – Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Porto, Union SG
- Tottenham: Ro16 – Anderlecht, Ajax, AZ, PAOK
- Rangers: Ro16 – Bodo/Glimt, FCSB, Midtjylland, Elfsborg
Olympiakos 2-0 Qarabag
77. A brace from El Kaabi has put the Greek side in complete control of this one.
More importantly, with other results this evening, they move into the top eight as well.
They fully deserve the win here this evening, had this match been a boxing bout, someone from the Qarabag bench would have thrown the towel in by now.
Latest scores from around Europe
- Ajax 2-0 Galatasaray
- Anderlecht 1-4 Hoffenheim
- Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Viktoria Plzen
- Braga 1-0 Lazio
- Dynamo Kiev 0-0 FK RFS
- FC Twente 0-0 Besiktas
- FCSB 0-1 Manchester United
- Ferencvaros 3-0 AZ Alkmaar
- Lyon 1-0 Ludogorets
- Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-1 Porto
- Midtjylland 1-2 Fenerbahce
- Nice 1-1 Bodo/Glimt
- Olympiacos 2-0 Qarabag
- Rangers 2-0 Union Saint-Gilloise
- Roma 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
- Real Sociedad 2-0 PAOK
- Slavia Prague 1-2 Malmo
- Tottenham 1-0 Elfsborg
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
