The inaugural league phase of the UEFA Europa League reached a definitive conclusion on Thursday night, resulting in the total elimination of 12 clubs from continental competition. Following the final set of Matchday 8 fixtures, the bottom third of the 36-team standings now face an early exit with no opportunity to drop down into the UEFA Conference League.
European governing rules now dictate that teams finishing between 25th and 36th on the overall table see their international campaigns end immediately, a significant departure from previous years where third-place group finishes offered a safety net.
Swiss side Young Boys and Austria’s Sturm Graz headline the list of high-profile departures after failing to secure the points necessary to climb into the playoff zone. They exit alongside Romanian champions FCSB, Dutch representatives Go Ahead Eagles and FC Utrecht, and the prominent duo of Feyenoord and RB Salzburg. The final standings also confirm the elimination of Basel, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Malmo FF, and French outfit Nice. In one of the evening’s most dramatic storylines, Scottish giants Rangers fell short of the requirements, joining the list of sides whose European journey concludes in January.
The race for the final knockout playoff position came down to a razor-thin margin between Norwegian side Brann and Young Boys. Brann ultimately secured 24th place, edging out the Swiss club on goal difference to claim the last available spot in the February playoffs. While the top 24 teams now prepare for the next stage of the tournament, these 12 eliminated clubs must shift their entire focus back to their respective domestic leagues. UEFA will host the draw for the knockout phase playoffs on Friday to determine the matchups for those who survived this grueling opening round.
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