Europa League final table: Lazio win phase, Roma could set up derby in R16

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 23: Valentin Castellanos of Lazio celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between S.S. Lazio and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Stadio Olimpico on January 23, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Lazio won the first ever Europa League opening League Phase, but while Roma will face FC Porto or Ferencvaros in the play-offs, there could be a Derby della Capitale in the Round of 16.

This is the first edition of the tournament with this new format, as all the teams play eight games in the league phase and the top eight go directly into the Round of 16.

The Aquile were the only side who went into the final matchday already knowing their place was secure and they even managed to hold on to top spot even after a 1-0 defeat to SC Braga.

This is because they have a superior goal difference to Athletic Club Bilbao also on 19 points.

Roma beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 and finish in 15^th position, meaning they are seeded in the draw for the play-offs, which will be held on Friday.

The Giallorossi are paired with Viktoria Plzen and will face either Ferencvaros or FC Porto in the play-offs.

However, if they win that, the odds are that their opponents in the Round of 16 will be Lazio, who are top seeds along with Athletic Bilbao.

Europa League final league phase results

Round of 16

Lazio, Athletic Club, Manchester United, Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiacos, Rangers

Play-Off Seeds

Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, FCSB, Ajax, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Roma, Viktoria Plzen

Play-Off Unseeded

Ferencvaros, Porto, AZ Alkmaar, Midtjylland, Union Saint-Gilloise, PAOK, FC Twente, Fenerbahce

Eliminated

Braga, Elfsborg, Hoffenheim, Besiktas, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Slavia Prague, Malmoe, RFS, Ludogorets, Dynamo Kyiv, Nice, Qarabag

Europa League table