The Champions League and Europa League reform drew criticism because it added to an already packed calendar, yet the European competitions' league phase finale is set to be a memorable blockbuster next week.

Knockout phase spots are up for grabs as the league phase of the UEFA Europa League reaches a thrilling conclusion.

OGC Nice’s exit from the UEFA Europa League has been confirmed after a 1-0 defeat to IF Elfsborg in Sweden on Thursday night. Nice had looked on course for an early exit from the competition

Roma’s latest defeat to AZ Alkmaar cost them a position in UEFA’s standings.With the penultimate matchday of the first phase of the Champions League and Europa League over, UEFA has updated the

In the midst of a difficult domestic campaign, Tottenham Hotspur's focus switches to continental competition when they face Hoffenheim in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. Despite the inconsistencies that have been on display this season,

Which teams are in the hunt for automatic qualification for the last 16? Who's on the brink of elimination? What about the playoffs?

UEFA Europa League standings after Thursday's matches, the penultimate round of group games (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wins his first match in charge of Besiktas as they beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the Europa League.

Hoffenheim (GER) 2 (Stach 68, Mokwa 88) Tottenham (ENG) 3 (Maddison 3, Son Heung-min 22, 77) Malmo (SWE) 2 (Berg Johnsen 32, Christiansen 79) Twente (NED) 3 (Steijn 28-pen, Van Wolfswinkel 61-pen, Lagerbielke 64)

Ajax suffered an incredibly embarrassing loss to Latvian side RFS Riga on Thursday. The Amsterdammers lost 1-0 to a goal from Adam Markhiev, who gave the Latvian team their first-ever win in European competition.

Greece soccer great Mimis Domazos, who captained the Panathinaikos team at the 1971 European Cup final, has died at age 83.