Format, fixtures, more ]Premier League sides Manchester United (3rd - 18 points) and Tottenham (4th - 17 points) are two of the eight that will avoid the first knockout round. Lazio (19 points) finished top with Athletic Bilbao behind them only on goal difference.

Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers have all learned who they could play in the next stage of the Europa League following the conclusion of the league phase. United and Tottenham both started the gameweek within the top-eight and made sure of their automatic progression to the last 16 by winning their respective games on Thursday evening.

The Europa League's inaugural league phase has ended with Lazio topping the table and Manchester United and Tottenham finishing in the top eight

Manchester United beat FCSB to finish third in the Europa League league phase and qualify direct for the Round of 16 where they will meet one of four teams.

Manchester United cruised through to the Europa League knockout stages after goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo earned the Premier League side a 2-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest on Thursday. Coming into their trip to Romania,

Manchester United and Tottenham put their inconsistent domestic campaigns aside and advanced to Europa League round of 16 on Thursday. Diogo Dalot tapped in a precise cross by Kobbie Mainoo on the hour mark and Mainoo netted eight minutes later for a 2-0 victory over Romanian champion FCSB in Bucharest.

United looked more threatening and took the lead when Mainoo squared for Dalot. Daniel Birligea almost levelled when he smashed the ball against the bar from distance before Mainoo scored United’s second eight minutes after his assist.