Late drama shaped the final night of the Europa League league phase as Lyon secured first place on goal difference and Roma grabbed direct passage to the last 16, with both clubs relying on crucial goals in the closing minutes to settle tense matches that directly affected positions across the 36-team standings.
Roma faced the toughest route, finishing with 10 players yet still avoiding the play-offs. Panathinaikos led through Vicente Taborda, and Roma lost Gianluca Mancini to a last-player foul in the 15th minute, but Jan Ziolkowski’s powerful 80th-minute header made it 1-1 and lifted Roma into the top eight.
Lyon began matchday eight already sure of a last-16 place, yet first position seemed at risk for long spells. Midtjylland’s 2-0 victory
over Dinamo Zagreb put pressure on the leaders, while Lyon fell behind at home to PAOK when Giorgos Giakoumakis struck after 33 minutes to silence the home support.
The match in Lyon turned chaotic before half-time as Giannis Konstantelias collected two yellow cards, leaving PAOK with 10 players, yet the visitors still threatened an upset. Remi Himbert and Khalis Merah both scored to overturn PAOK’s lead, before Soualiho Meite equalised and set up a tense finish against the French side.
Giannis Michailidis then conceded a penalty for a foul on Himbert, sparking further controversy. Visiting manager Razvan Lucescu was sent off for foul and abusive language. Adam Karabec hit the woodwork from the spot but recovered to score the decisive goal in the 88th minute, with Alejandro Rodriguez adding a fourth for Lyon in stoppage time.
Lyon’s 4-2 victory ensured top spot ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference, while Midtjylland finished third. Real Betis claimed fourth after a 2-1 win over Feyenoord. Across the continent, several clubs learned whether they would move straight into the last 16 or face the extra hurdle of February play-offs.
The 2025/26 league phase is complete #UEL pic.twitter.com/LqA9U8z4K3UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 29, 2026
Europa League Lyon Roma qualification picture and play-offs
Roma’s late leveller had direct consequences for several rivals. Genk, who beat Malmo 2-1, slipped below Roma on goal difference and into the play-off pool. Bologna and Stuttgart ended 10th and 11th after victories over Maccabi Tel Aviv and Young Boys, joining Genk and Nottingham Forest as seeded clubs for the knockout play-offs.
Ludogorets also changed the Europa League landscape by defeating already-eliminated Nice 1-0. That result lifted Ludogorets into the play-off positions and pushed Young Boys out in 25th place on goal difference. The tight margins across these ties underlined how every late goal affected the final Europa League order involving Lyon, Roma and others.
Europa League Lyon Roma records and data debrief
The draw in Athens required Roma to show resilience, especially after an early dismissal. The club avoided defeat despite a red card inside 15 minutes in European competition for the first time since January 2010, when goalkeeper Doni was sent off after 11 minutes against Chievo Verona in Serie A but Roma still won 1-0.
Data also highlighted Roma’s consistency across European campaigns. Among all Italian sides to appear in UEFA competitions over the last 10 seasons, Roma stand alone with a perfect record for advancing from the group or league phase, doing so 10 times from 10 attempts across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
The closing round therefore confirmed Lyon as league-phase leaders and secured Roma a direct route to the Europa League last 16, while pushing several clubs, including Genk and Ludogorets, into the play-offs and leaving Young Boys eliminated, with fine goal-difference margins and late strikes defining the final standings.
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-176972903382680791.webp)
