Teams in Europa League knockouts: Final standings, list of clubs qualified for knockout rounds in 2025/26

Lyon and Aston Villa have clinched Round of 16 byes, making them safer bets to progress deep; punters should favour backing them to reach the quarterfinals, while playoff entrants are higher-variance picks because extra ties and seeding can swing outcomes—look for value on seeded playoff sides with second-leg home advantage.

Europa League final matchday: 24 knockout places at stake

The final day of the Europa League league phase will determine the 24 football clubs that advance to the knockout rounds. The top eight teams earn a prized bye straight to the Round of 16; teams finishing ninth through 24th head to the two-legged knockout playoff round. Almost every fixture carries stakes—byes, seeding for playoff draws or survival in the competition.

What a Round of 16 bye means

Securing a top-eight finish grants a team a direct passage to the Round of 16 and seeding advantages: those byes reduce fixture congestion, remove the immediate risk of elimination in February and guarantee home advantage in the second leg if drawn as a seeded side later in the knockout phase. That extra rest and draw protection can materially affect knockout betting markets.

Current standings heading into the final matchday

Clinched Round of 16 byes

1. Lyon (France) 2. Aston Villa (England)

Only Lyon and Aston Villa had mathematically secured top-eight byes before the last fixtures; the remaining six bye places will be decided on the final matchday.

Teams occupying the rest of the top-eight spots (standing positions shown)

3. SC Freiburg 4. Midtjylland 5. Braga 6. AS Roma 7. Ferencvaros 8. Real Betis

These positions reflect the table heading into the last round; several of these clubs can still move up or down depending on results.

Knockout playoff picture (positions 9–24)

Teams finishing 9–24 enter the knockout playoff round. Positions 9–16 are seeded and will host the second leg, a significant advantage.

9. Porto (Portugal)

10. Genk (Belgium)

11. Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)

12. PAOK (Greece)

13. VfB Stuttgart (Germany)

14. Celta Vigo (Spain)

15. Bologna (Italy)

16. Nottingham Forest (England)

17. Viktoria Plzen (Czechia)

18. Fenerbahce (Turkey)

19. Panathinaikos (Greece)

20. Dinamo Zagreb

21. Lille

22. Brann

23. BSC Young Boys

24. Celtic

Note: 9–16 will be seeded in the playoff draw and benefit from hosting the decisive second leg.

Eliminated clubs (positions 25–36)

25. Ludogorets 26. Feyenoord 27. Basel 28. RB Salzburg 29. FCSB 30. Go Ahead Eagles 31. Rangers (Scotland) 32. Sturm Graz (Austria) 33. Nice (France) 34. FC Utrecht (Netherlands) 35. Malmo FF (Sweden) 36. Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)

These teams were out of knockout contention entering the final matchday.

Key dates for the knockout rounds

The knockout playoff first legs are scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026, with return legs on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The Round of 16 first legs are on Thursday, March 12, 2026, and second legs on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Betting implications and tips

Why byes matter for punters

Clubs that secured Round of 16 byes (currently Lyon and Aston Villa) are lower-risk options in outright and futures markets due to rest and protection from an extra knockout tie. Punters may prefer backing these sides for quarterfinal progression or deeper runs.

Playoff seeding and value bets

Seeded playoff teams (positions 9–16) gain the second-leg home advantage—this often influences two-legged ties and is worth factoring into qualifiers and head-to-head markets. Conversely, teams coming through the playoff can be volatile short-term but may offer value in outrights if priced conservatively.

Markets to consider

- Back teams that clinched byes for “progress to quarterfinals.” - Look for value on seeded playoff sides in two-legged ties. - Consider accumulator caution for playoff entrants because extra matches increase fatigue and variability.

What to watch on the final matchday

Final fixtures will decide byes, seeding and which clubs avoid elimination. Punters should monitor team news, late injuries and group dynamics—a single result can reshape the knockout landscape and betting lines overnight.

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After the thrilling conclusion to Champions League action the day before, the Europa League takes centre stage to determine the 24 participants for the knockout stage.

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