AC Milan, Benfica, Marseille Reach Europa League Last 16

AC Milan advanced to the Europa League last 16 with a 5-3 aggregate win, despite a second-leg play-off round defeat of 3-2 to Rennes on Thursday. Rennes’ Benjamin Bourigeaud stood out with a hat-trick, including two penalties, but Milan’s goals from Luka Jovic and Rafael Leao secured their progression, building on a solid 3-0 first-leg lead.

Benfica overcame Toulouse with a goalless draw in France, capitalizing on their 2-1 home victory in the first leg to move forward. Lens, having moved from the Champions League to the Europa League play-offs, were eliminated by Freiburg, who came from behind to win 3-2 in extra time, marking the third French team to exit.

Freiburg’s comeback was highlighted by Roland Sallai’s double, pushing the game into extra time, where Michael Gregoritsch scored the decisive goal in the 99th minute. Meanwhile, Marseille kept French hopes alive by overturning a deficit against Shakhtar Donetsk, winning 5-3 on aggregate after securing a 3-1 victory at home.

Marseille’s comeback was spearheaded by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who set a record with his 31st Europa League goal, with additional goals from Ismaila Sarr and Geoffrey Kondogbia marking a successful coaching debut for Jean-Louis Gasset after Gennaro Gattuso’s departure. Roma, last season’s runners-up, progressed after beating Feyenoord in a penalty shootout, following 1-1 draws in both legs.

In a dramatic match in Azerbaijan, Qarabag, despite being a man down and initially losing a two-goal lead, advanced with a last-minute goal by Nariman Akhundzade, securing a 4-2 aggregate win against Braga. Sporting Lisbon and Sparta Prague also moved on, with the latter overturning a first-leg deficit against Galatasaray after a red card to Kaan Ayhan.

Ajax narrowly escaped elimination in the Europa Conference League by defeating Bodo/Glimt in extra time, with Kenneth Taylor’s late goal ensuring a 4-3 aggregate victory. Dinamo Zagreb, Union Saint-Gilloise, Olympiakos, Servette, Molde, and Sturm Graz all advanced to the next round. Maccabi Haifa was the first team to progress, beating Gent 2-1 on aggregate in a match played without spectators due to security concerns.

The draws for the last 16 of both the Europa League and the Europa Conference League are scheduled at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday.