Manchester United booked a direct spot in the Europa League round of 16 after beating Steaua Bucharest 2-0 away. This match, played on Thursday, marked the final round of the League Stage in the European competition.
United controlled the game with better possession and more chances. Portuguese full-back Diogo Dalot and English youngster Kobbie Mainoo scored in the 60th and 68th minutes, securing the win.
This result lifted United to 18 points from five wins and three draws, placing them fifth in the final standings. Steaua Bucharest stayed at 14 points with four wins, two draws, and two losses, finishing in tenth place.
Under this season’s Europa League rules, the top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams ranked ninth to 24th will go through a knockout round to determine the remaining spots.
This confirms United’s place in the next round, while Steaua Bucharest will play a two-legged knockout tie against an opponent to be drawn on Friday.
Other Europa League Results
In other matches, Rangers beat Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1. Roma defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0. Slavia Prague drew 2-2 with Malmo, while Tottenham Hotspur earned a 3-0 win over Elfsborg.
Ajax Amsterdam won 2-1 against Galatasaray. Ferencvaros claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory over AZ Alkmaar. Sporting Braga edged Lazio 1-0, and Real Sociedad beat PAOK Salonika 2-0.
Olympiacos secured a 3-0 win over Qarabag. Lyon drew 1-1 with Ludogorets, while Fenerbahce played out a 2-2 draw with Midtjylland.
Athletic Bilbao defeated Viktoria Plzen 3-1. Porto won 1-0 against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Anderlecht suffered a 4-3 loss to Hoffenheim. Nice shared a 1-1 draw with Bodo Glimt, while Twente won 1-0 against Besiktas. Dynamo Kyiv beat Rigas Fotbola.
Teams Reaching Europa League Last 16
Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, and Rangers are through to the round of 16.
Knockout Round Participants
Bodo Glimt, Anderlecht, Steaua Bucharest, Ajax, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Roma, Ferencvaros, Viktoria Plzen, Porto, Midtjylland, Union Saint-Gilloise, AZ Alkmaar, PAOK, Twente, and Fenerbahce will battle for a place in the next round.
Teams Eliminated from the Europa League
Sporting Braga, Elfsborg, Hoffenheim, Besiktas, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Slavia Prague, Malmo, Rigas Fotbola, Ludogorets, Dynamo Kyiv, Nice, and Qarabag have exited the competition.
