Arsenal and Real Sociedad emerged among the group winners in the UEFA Europa League last night after the conclusion of the group phase of the competition.
The Gunners needed victory over FC Zurich to guarantee leadership of Group A, and they secured a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium through Kieran Tierney’s 17th minute strike.
PSV Eindhoven beat Bodo/Glimt 2-1 in Norway to finish second.
In Group E, Real Sociedad will go to the round of 16 as leaders despite losing 1-0 at home to Manchester United.
Youngster Alejandro Garnacho scored his first senior goal to hand United the win but Erik ten Hag’s sided needed to win by at least two goals to finish ahead of the Spaniards.
United have earned a spot in the playoffs, where they will meet one of the teams that finished third in their Champions League groups and dropped down to the Europa League.
In the group’s other fixture, Sheriff Tiraspol confirmed third place and a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs with a 1-0 win at Omonia Nicosia.
Nigerian striker Rasheed Akanbi scored the only goal of the game past his compatriot Francis Uzoho, who has become the Cypriot side’s regular goalkeeper in recent games.
Elsewhere, AS Roma claimed their place in the knockout play-offs the hard way as they came back to secure a 3-1 win against Ludogorets.
Jose Mourinho’s needed to beat Ludogorets in order to finish in second place in Group C behind Real Betis.
Rick gave Ludogorets the lead but Roma substitute Nicolò Zaniolo won two penalties, each converted by Lorenzo Pellegrini as the Italian side turned the contest around in the second half.
In Group F, substitute Santiago Gimenez sent Feyenoord through as group winners by virtue of goals scored as all four sides finished on eight points, with Lazio condemned to third place following their 1-0 defeat in Rotterdam.
Europa League
Group winners:
Arsenal, Fenerbahçe, Ferencváros, Feyenoord, Freiburg, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Union SG.
Advance directly to the round of 16
Group runners-up:
Manchester United, Midtjylland, Monaco, Nantes, PSV Eindhoven, Rennes, Roma, Union Berlin.
Progress to the knockout round play-offs, where they will face one of eight teams transferring from the UEFA Champions League having finished third in their groups.
Third-placed sides from Champions League group stage confirmed in Europa League knockout round play-offs:
Ajax, Barcelona, Juventus, Leverkusen, Salzburg, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sporting CP.
