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Europa League LIVE: Man United and Spurs secure top eight spots as Porto progress

Updated
Rangers celebrate goal
Rangers celebrate goalANDY BUCHANAN / AFP
After yesterday's epic final night of the Champions League before the play-off round, the league phase of the Europa League concludes tonight and more fireworks can be expected.

23:12 CET - That is where we leave you tonight and for the league phase of the European competitions! We will be back next month for some tasty play-off action.

23:10 CET -  Here's how the teams will go through to the knockouts:

Top eight: Lazio, Athletic Club, Man United, Tottenham, Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, Rangers

Play-offs: Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, Bucharest, Ajax, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Roma, Plzen, Ferencvaros, Porto, AZ Alkmaar, Midtjylland, Union SG, PAOK, Twente, Fenerbahce

Eliminated: Braga, Elfsborg, Hoffenheim, Besiktas, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Slavia Prague, Malmo, RFS, Ludogorets, Dynamo Kyiv, Nice, Qarabag

Check out all the results and match stats from tonight here.

23:00 CET - Over to England and Manchester United and Spurs delivered in the second half to win 2-0 and 3-0 respectively and secure top-eight finishes. 

Match stats
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Match stats
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Rangers have also squeezed into the top eight with a big 2-1 win.

Finally, Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce have squeezed into the play-offs despite a 2-2 draw this evening with Midtjylland.

22:55 CET - However it is good news for one of Europe's biggest clubs Porto who are through after their 1-0 win over Tel Aviv.

Match stats
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22:54 CET - The big news coming in at the moment is that Braga are heading out despite beating top-of-the-table Lazio

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22:53 CET - As some games start to come to a close, Spurs have added a third goal late on to add gloss to their win!

22:50 CET - A special mention to the game in Brussels as Hoffenheim lead Anderlecht 4-3! That currently means the home side will miss out on a top eight finish.

22:47 CET - A setback for Fenerbahce as Midtjylland equalise to put Jose Mourinho's side down to 24th and possibly in trouble.

22:44 CET - It is a golden moment for Spurs academy graduate Oyindamola Ajayi who scores just minutes after being brought on to make his senior debut! It is a brilliant finish from the young man to put Tottenham 2-0 up and in control.

22:37 CET - There has been plenty of change at the top as Roma now lead Frankurt 2-0, Bilbao are back ahead, Spurs and Manchester United lead. 

That takes Bilbao back to second and United and Spurs incredibly up to third and fourth respectively as it stands! 

At the bottom end of the play-off positions, FC Twente are now leading Besiktas which means Elfsborg have currently dropped out of the top 24 as have Besiktas. Bad night for the Turkish clubs so far.

But it is all so close at the bottom and it could all change - five teams are on 10 points and separated only by goal difference.

22:32 CET - A brilliant team goal from Manchester United ended with Alejandro Garnacho pulling it back for Kobiee Mainoo who side-footed an effort into the bottom corner with immense composure. 2-0 and United are now looking strong for a top-eight finish. 

22:31 CET - Big goal for Spurs which drops British rivals Rangers out of the top eight and it is the first Tottenham goal for Dane Scarlett after the youngster buried a dangerous cross with a brilliant diving header. 1-0.

Spurs goal sequence
Spurs goal sequenceichard Pelham / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP

22:25 CET - Elsewhere, Olympiacos lead Qarabag 1-0, they are into top eight having scored seven in the whole league phase.

And Lyon have taken the lead vs Ludogorets.

22:22 CET - Meanwhile, Manchester United have finally taken the lead after a bright start to the second period and lead 1-0 away to FCSB. 

Diogo Dalot tapped in at the back post after a low-driven cross from Kobbie Mainoo.

Dalot goal sequence
Dalot goal sequenceVasile Mihai-Antonio / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP

22:21 CET - A big Porto goal as they move inside the play-off positions for the first time tonight! 1-0.

22:16 CET - Rangers have doubled their advantage too and it is a composed finish from Vaclav Cerny after a smart pullback.

Cerny goal sequence
Cerny goal sequenceIan MacNicol / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP

22:14 CET - Bodo/Gimt are ahead in their first-ever game against a French side and it moves them inside the top eight! It is Fredrik Bjorkan who fires them ahead away to Nice. Bodo/Gimt are quickly becoming the story of the competition. 

22:12 CET - There has been an opening goal of the night in Prague as Slavia take the lead at home to Malmo in a dead rubber.

22:06 CET - Some games are back on and there has been a goal already! Fenerbache come from behind to now lead 2-1 as Edin Dzeko fires them ahead and into 18th. That also puts Midtjylland in trouble as they drop to 23rd and into danger.

22:02 CET - If you are interested in who could play who in the knockouts, as things stand there is a chance Rangers could face Manchester United in the round of 16 in a mouthwatering potential tie.

United have struggled to get out of second gear so far tonight but have brought on Alejandro Garnacho at the break as they look to find the decisive goal tonight.

21:59 CET - Take a look at all the half-time scores below and check out the live bracket on UEFA's website.

21:50 CET - It is half-time across the grounds in Europe! Check out some match stats from around the grounds here:

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Match stats
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Match stats
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21:48 CET - Robbie Keane's night just gets better and better as Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane completes his break.

21:47 CET - Real Sociedad have scored two quickfire goals to take a 2-0 lead into the break and are now in cruise control against PAOK.

21:44 CET - The 10th goal of the night goes to Hoffenheim as they equalise against Anderlecht.

21:40 CET - A big goal for Fenerbahce and what a finish it is from Youssef En Nesyri! The striker was played in on goal and showed remarkable composure to dink the ball over the keeper. 

Youssef En Nesyri goal sequence
Youssef En Nesyri goal sequenceAhmad Mora / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP

That brings Jose Mourinho's side inside the top eight for now.

21:37 CET - Goal of the night? AZ might be in a spot of bother now as Robbie Keane's new side Ferencvaros go 2-0 up after a rocket from striker Adama Traore.

21:33 CET - Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao have jumped into second place and above Frankfurt after their talisman Nico Williams fired them ahead against Plzen. Nico was set up by his brother Inaki in a feel-good goal. 

21:30 CET - Midtjylland have taken the lead against Fenerbahce which is an important goal for them in their hunt for a play-off spot.

21:27 CET - A big dent in Galatasaray's top-eight hopes as Bertrand Traore taps in from a rebound to put the hosts ahead.

21:23 CET - Rangers are also now ahead in a big goal at the Ibrox which puts them in touching distance of the top eight and it was a calm finish from Nicolas Raskin.

Rangers goal sequence
Rangers goal sequenceIan MacNicol / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP

Rangers have scored 8 first-half goals in 8 games, only Galatasaray (12) and Lazio (11) have scored more in the UEFA Europa League this season.

21:21 CET - A thumping strike from Luis Vazquez gives Anderlecht the lead against Hoffenheim!

21:20 CET - Manchester United have made a bright start and Kobiee Mainoo has been involved in two big early chances but the youngster has been unable to break the deadlock.

21:11 CET - The longest name in the Europa League - Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane has scored for Ferencvaros against AZ in the second game of the night.

Ferencvaros have now scored 3 goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half, no team has more in the UEFA Europa League this season according to Opta.

21:07 CET - Ricardo Horta has scored the first goal of the night and it is a big one for Braga! It was a brilliant finish inside the box to stun the league phase leaders Lazio.

That takes Braga up to 24th so it is a big goal for them.

21:00 CET - Into the fifth minute and still no goals! Long may it continue...

21:00 CET - It is final night time! We are underway around 18 different grounds. This should be epic!

20:55 CET - A nice stat here from Opta. Roma are at risk of being eliminated from the first round group/league phase of major European competition for the first time since the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League. They have never fallen at the first hurdle in the UEFA Cup/Europa League before.

And it won't be easy tonight as they host high-flying Eintracht Frankfurt (a side already qualified for the round of 16)

20:51 CET - One team who has been flying in Europe is Real Sociedad and tonight could be a historic night for them if they win at home against PAOK

20:50 CET - The countdown to kick-off is on and one man who is getting excited for Rangers' big night is Ally Mcoist who is looking in good spirits ahead of kick-off at the Ibrox. 

Ally McCoist ahead of kick-off at the Ibrox
Ally McCoist ahead of kick-off at the IbroxAndrew Milligan / PA Images / Profimedia

20:20 CET - A reminder to keep up with all the scores, stats and match commentary from the 18 games tonight HERE.

19:55 CET - The wait is over - the teams are in and the night really begins here! 

Check out the lineups from the key games tonight below: 

FCSB vs Manchester United Match lineups
FCSB vs Manchester United Match lineupsFlashscore
Tottneham vs Elfsborg match lineups
Tottneham vs Elfsborg match lineupsFlashscore
Ajax vs Galatasaray match lineups
Ajax vs Galatasaray match lineupsFlashscore
Porto's match lineups
Porto's match lineupsFlashscore

19:45 CET - Just as we wait for some team news for tonight, here is a reminder of the top scorers so far in the competition:

Europa League top scorers
Europa League top scorersGABRIEL KUCHTA / GETTY IMAGES EUROPEGetty Images via AFP / Stats Perform

19:35 CET - Last but not least, there is one other intriguing game between two big European sides as Ajax host Galatasaray.

Whilst there is little riding on Ajax as it would take a lot to go against them for the Dutch side to be eliminated and they can't make the top eight, it is a big away trip for Galatasaray.

The Turkish giants know they need to win and hope results go their way to squeeze into the top eight and avoid a two-legged play-off. 

Check out all the other match previews for tonight's action here.

19:20 CET - As well as the battle to stay in the competition, there is an equally in-the-balance fight for a top-eight finish and automatic progression to the last 16.

Two English clubs currently inside the top eight but needing to win to make sure they stay there are Manchester United and Tottenham.

United have travelled to Romania to take on FCSB who are currently in eighth position and are just one point behind Ruben Amorim's side. It will be a tough away test for a team still struggling to get to grips with a new system and style of play. 

Spurs meanwhile have a slightly easier match as they host Elfsborg but routine wins have become something of a novelty for Ange Postecoglou's side in recent times.

If they don't turn up tonight and end up losing then Spurs will likely be forced into playing a two-legged play-off. All is to play for. 

19:00 CET - Hello and welcome back for another football festival in a huge night of Europa League action. The final order of things will be decided in the next few hours as we prepare for tomorrow's UEFA Champions/Europa League draw.

There is plenty still up for grabs this evening too with European giants Porto needing to win to stand a chance of reaching the play-offs and a fight is on for the top eight spots. 

Porto know that they must beat Maccabi Tel Aviv to qualify and whilst they aren't entirely in control of their destiny, 19th-placed Midtjylland taking on 23rd-placed Fenerbache does help their cause since they are just one point off the play-off spots.

Check out the preview for Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Porto here.