Europa League: Aston Villa, Lyon through to last 16; play-offs set

KATHMANDU: The group stage of the UEFA Europa League concluded on Thursday, deciding the clubs advancing directly to the Round of 16 and those entering the play-off round.

English side Aston Villa produced an impressive performance to defeat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2, finishing second in their group and booking a direct spot in the Round of 16.

Lyon topped the group with a 4-2 victory, joining Villa in the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest and Celtic clinched places in the play-off round with commanding wins. Forest overwhelmed Ferencváros 4-0, while Celtic defeated Utrecht 4-2.

Rangers endured disappointment, losing 3-1 to Porto and suffering their sixth consecutive away defeat in European competition.

Other notable results included Midtjylland securing third place with a 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, Real Betis defeating Feyenoord 2-1, and Porto finishing in the top five by beating Rangers.

Roma scored a dramatic last-minute goal to secure direct progression to the Round of 16.

The play-off round will feature Celtic, Nottingham Forest, Genk, Bologna, Stuttgart, Ferencváros, Viktoria Plzen, Red Star Belgrade, Celta Vigo, PAOK, Lille, Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos, Ludogorets, Dinamo Zagreb, and Brann, all vying for the remaining spots in the Round of 16.

The draw for the knockout and play-off rounds is scheduled for Friday in Switzerland, with play-off ties set to take place in February.