Europa League: Arsenal top their group despite losing to Cologne
Arsenal topped their Europa League group despite a 1-0 loss to German club Cologne FC. This is the first defeat for the London club in the group stage. The lone goal came from a 62nd minute penalty converted by Cologne's Sehrou Guirassy. With just a match left to play in the group stage, Arsenal have confirmed their spot in the Round of 32.
AC Milan, Nice, Villarreal also advance to Round of 32
Seven-time European champions AC Milan booked their Round of 32 berth, finishing top of their group beating Austria's Vienna 5-1 in their latest outing. Similarly, Mario Balotelli's brace helped Nice secure a 3-1 win over Belgium's Zulte Waregem, thus advancing to the knockout phase, alongside group's topper Lazio. Spain's Villarreal also qualified for Round of 32 beating FC Astana 3-2.
Who all qualified for Round of 32 so far?
24 teams, 12 group toppers and 12 runners-up, qualify from Europa League group stage to Round of 32, along with 8 third placed teams from the group stage of Champions League. As it stands, 16 teams have advanced from Europa League- Arsenal, Atlanta, Braga, Dynamo Kyiv, FCSB, Lazio, Lyon, AC Milan, Nice, Ostersund, Partizan, Plzen, Real Sociedad, Salzburg, Villarreal, and Zenit St. Petersburg.
Manchester United, Liverpool could still be out of Champions League
With their Champions League knockout place still unconfirmed, big teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Atletico Madrid, face the risk of being ousted to find themselves in the Europa League round of 32.
