Europa League: Lazio finish top despite defeat as Rangers sneak into top eight

Meanwhile, Ajax made sure of a place in the Europa League playoffs as they beat Galatasaray 2-1 at home on Thursday and went above the Turkish league leaders in the final group standings

Thu, 30 Jan, 2025 - 22:53

Reuters and PA

Rangers qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League with a nervy 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.

Midfielder Nicolas Raskin scored his first goal of the season with a header in the 21st minute and fit-again winger Vaclav Cerny doubled that lead soon after the break with a drive.

Sebastien Pocognoli's Belgian side, who started the night on 11 points, the same as their hosts, had their chances against a Gers defence and defender Kevin MacAllister reduced the deficit in the 84th minute but Rangers held out for the win.

Several other results had to go the Light Blues' way in order for them to go straight through to the last 16, and they did with Rangers finishing in eighth place with 14 points and will take on either Fenerbahce, Twente, Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht with the draw taking place on Friday.

Lazio finished top of the group stage despite a 1-0 defeat at Sporting Braga on Thursday as the Portuguese side failed to secure a playoff spot.

Braga opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Ricardo Horta fired into the bottom corner from Victor Gomez's cross.

The Italian side battled to maintain their unbeaten run after the break, but failed to penetrate Braga's organised defence.

Lazio's first defeat in their European campaign left them top on 19 points, level with Athletic Bilbao but ahead on goal difference.

Ajax made sure of a place in the playoffs as they beat Galatasaray 2-1 at home on Thursday and went above the Turkish league leaders in the final group standings.

Galatasaray's Baris Yilmaz, background, tries his luck

Ajax finished the group in 12th spot while Galatasaray were 14th, also through to the next phase, but saw their 26-game unbeaten run come to an end.

Bertrand Traore scored in the 23rd minute to put Ajax, who started the last night 16th in the standings, ahead before turning provider for Kian Fitz-Jim 13 minutes into the second half.

Galatasaray, whose last defeat was to Swiss club Young Boys in the preliminary round of the Champions League in August, had chances to preserve their record but only got a late consolation from Victor Osimhen in added time.

Nigerian international Osimhen had been guilty of missing the target with three good chances while substitute Michy Batshauyi squandered a sitter.

Ajax’s opener came after battling play from striker Brian Brobbey, who with his back to goal and after falling to the ground, managed to lay the ball off for Chuba Akpom to fire in a shot that Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Musiera parried to Traore, who neatly tucked away the rebound.

A quick counter-attack led by full back Anton Gaael set up Ajax’s second, with his cross not properly cleared allowing Traore to pass the loose ball for Fitz-Jim to finish.

Ajax’s 41-year-old goalkeeper Remko Pasveer surprisingly wore the captain’s armband instead of usual skipper Jordan Henderson, who started the game, leading Dutch media to speculate the former England international may be leaving the club.

Roma's Eldor Shomurodov celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's 2nd goal

AS Roma secured their place in the playoffs with a 2-0 home win over German side Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, while the visitors still secured a top-eight position despite the loss.

An evenly played first half saw Roma break the deadlock a minute before the break as Angelino fired in a sharp-angled volley from a cross, the ball finding the net despite deflections off both Frankfurt's keeper Kevin Trapp and a defender.

The break saw trouble in the stands with fireworks set off and supporters clashing, but stewards and police got it quickly under control, allowing the match to restart without delay.

Roma doubled their lead after 69 minutes when Eldor Shomurodov surged into the box and tapped the ball past the onrushing Trapp, sending it rolling into the empty net to seal their progression.

Four goals in 24 minutes for Hoffenheim saw them rally from behind to defeat Anderlecht 4-3 on Thursday and end their hosts’ hopes of a place in the top eight and automatic qualification for the round of 16.

Hoffenheim needed to win and hope other results went their way to reach the playoffs but, despite their thrilling victory, it was not enough to see them progress and they bow out of the competition in 27th place in the table.

Other results

Twente 1 Besiktas 0

Real Socieded 2 PAOK 0

Nice 1 Bodo/Glimt 1

Olympiacos 3 Qarabag 0

Dynamo Kiev 1 RFS 0

Midtjylland 2 Fenerbahce 2

Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 Porto 1

Slavia Praha 2 Malmo 2

Lyon 1 Ludogorets 1

Ath Bilbao 3 Viktoria Plzen 1

Ferencvaros 4 AZ Alkmaar 3