Round of 16 places: Who will join Lazio?
As was the case with the UEFA Conference League last month, only one team heads into the final round of the Europa League league phase with a place in the last 16 guaranteed. That goes to Lazio, who are one of three teams unbeaten at this stage. Even better for the Biancocelesti is the fact that they have virtually wrapped up top spot due to their goal difference.
Even with a defeat at Sporting Braga, combined with Eintracht Frankfurt and/or Athletic Club wins, they are unlikely to change that.
Beyond the Serie A side, seven more places in the round of 16 are available for 11 teams. Frankfurt and Bilbao, each on 16 points, only need a point each to secure their places. Manchester United (15 points), Lyon, Tottenham, Anderlecht, and FCSB (all 14) have the ball in their court.
Victory on Thursday will see them skip the knockout round play-offs. For United, they likely can get away with a draw, as 16 points will almost surely be enough.
Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt, on 13 points, as well as Viktoria Plzen and Olympiacos (12) are also in the running for a spot in the last 16. In their case, only a win will give them hope of jumping into the top eight.
Looking at the matches involving these dozen teams, there are two direct clashes. FCSB and Manchester United square off in the Romanian capital in a winner-take-all game.
It is likely that if there is a loser, that side will miss out on the top eight. The other direct duel sees Athletic Club battle Plzen. While the latter cannot pass their opponents, both sides are still chasing the same thing, a top-eight finish.
Frankfurt, they are on the road, taking on AS Roma, who could also use a result. Lyon host the already-eliminated Ludogorets, while Anderlecht are also at home, facing Hoffenheim. As for Spurs, they will receive a visit from Elfsborg, which will be quite the challenge given the Swedes' position.
Galatasaray head to the Netherlands to battle Ajax, Bodo/Glimt are at Nice, while Olympiacos welcome Qarabag, who are already out.
Knockout round playoff places: Established clubs under pressure
There are three sides who have virtually clinched a knockout play-off spot, all on 11 points: AZ Alkmaar, Rangers, and Union Saint-Gilloise, with the latter two facing off.
There are nine more places in the Europa League knockout stages up for grabs and a total of 14 teams are in contention. With that said, some clubs have one foot in the next round, while others are virtually out.
The sides on 10 points - Ajax, PAOK, Real Sociedad, Midtjylland, and Elfsborg - go into Thursday in the best position. A point for any of these sides sends them through.
Real Sociedad and PAOK meet as well, making this matchup all the more fascinating. Defeat will force the teams to nervously watch how other results go. There is a good chance that 10 points will be enough to advance, but another point will do the quintet a world of good.
For Roma, Ferencvaros, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas, all on nine points, they know that a victory keeps them in the competition. A draw may not be enough, depending on what goes on around them.
Lose though, and elimination looks considerably likely. There is a small chance that nine points can still be good enough to move on, but relying on this would be ill-advised.
Finally, we look at the five teams on the outside looking in. Porto (8), Twente, Braga (7), Hoffenheim, and Maccabi Tel Aviv (6) can all still finish in the top 24. While things do not look favourable for Hoffenheim and Maccabi, the best they can do is win and get some help. For the other three, it is simple: win and you are in. A draw could do the trick for Porto, but that is risky business.
We have a few matches with qualification on the line. Midtjylland host Fenerbahce, while Besiktas return to the Netherlands for the second time in this Europa League season, this time to face Twente. The latter match has major consequences - the loser is out. Porto and Maccabi Tel Aviv also face each other, where the latter could win and still be eliminated. Ferencvaros face AZ, looking to join them in the knockout play-offs. Braga could have a huge advantage in taking on Lazio at home.
As was the case in the Champions League final matchday, there are a pair of UEL games between teams already eliminated. Dynamo Kyiv and RFS square off, the latter pulling off a historic shock last time out. In Sweden, Malmo weclome Slavia Prague, as both teams look to end disappointing Europa League campaigns on a high.