The final group stage matches of this season’s Europa League will be played on Thursday night. Here are five things to look out for. Click here to bet on the matches.
Easy going for Chelsea, Arsenal
The two big English sides in the competition are already assured of their places in the final 32. Chelsea could actually make history by surpassing the record 11-point margin in winning a group. For that to happen, they will need to beat Vidi and for BATE to lose against PAOK. Arsenal have also sealed top spot in Group E, which largely makes their match against Qarabağ at the Emirates a dead rubber.
Fireworks in Group G
Only two points separate Group G leaders Villarreal and Spartak Moscow in fourth. Rapid Wien are equal on points (seven) with Villarreal, while Steven Gerrard’s Rangers are third, on six. Villarreal host Spartak while Rangers will be in Austria to face Rapid.
Rodgers and Celtic to crash out?
A huge disappointment looms large for Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic side, as they face the very real prospect of elimination at the group stage. The Hoops are currently second in Group B, three points ahead of RB Leipzig in third. Defeat against Salzburg – who have won every one of their five group matches – will see them eliminated, unless Leipzig somehow fail to beat Rosenborg, who do not have a single point so far.
Tonic for Milan
AC Milan are on the verge of qualifying for the round of 32 in Group F. Olympiacos will have to beat them by a margin of at least two goals if they have to qualify ahead of Gennaro Gattuso’s men. Milan will be confident of avoiding such defeat, given they were assured in their 3-1 win over the Greeks when they met earlier in the group. A win to send the Rossoneri through would be the perfect tonic following a disappointing 0-0 draw against Torino in Serie A over the weekend.
Sarpsborg dream on
Sarpsborg will have to claim an unlikely victory in Belgium over Genk in order to make it through past the group stage. The odds are extremely long on that happening, but if they can successfully pull it off, they will be the only debutants in the competition this season to qualify.