Matchday 5 of the Europa League is scheduled to be played on Thursday and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers could cement their round of 32 spots. You can watch all Europa League games live online.
Elsewhere, Arsenal and Leicester City have already qualified for the knockout stage and will be aiming to seal the top position in their respective groups.
Celtic, on the other hand, have only pride to play for. They are already out of the competition after managing just one point in their first four games.
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Europa League Matchday 5 Preview:
Arsenal – Group B:
Arsenal are currently experiencing their worst start to a league season in nearly four decades, but they have had no such concerns in the Europa League.
The north London giants have won all their four matches in Group B and they have already booked their spot in the last 16 of the Europa League.
They are currently top with a six-point lead over both Molde and Rapid Vienna and need a maximum of one point from the remaining two games to seal the first position.
The Gunners will host Vienna in Thursday’s late kick-off and they can cement the first place even with a defeat, if Molde drop points against Dundalk.
Tottenham Hotspur – Group J:
Arsenal’s arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur have had a superb start to the season in the Premier League where they are top of the table on goal difference.
In the Europa League, they have accumulated nine points from four matches, with the only setback being the shock 1-0 defeat at Antwerp on Matchday 2.
Spurs will face LASK away of Thursday and they need just one point to seal qualification. LASK, who are three points behind them, are trailing on the head-to-head after the 3-0 loss at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in October.
Jose Mourinho’s side are currently behind Antwerp on the head-to-head after the away loss. They will host the Dutch side in the final matchday in a straight fight for the top spot.
Leicester City – Group G:
The Foxes’ return to European football has been memorable and they have already secured progress to the knockout phase with 10 points on the board.
Only second-placed Braga (seven points) can leapfrog them on the table, given AEK Athens and Zorya Luhansk (three points apiece) can only finish with maximum of nine points.
They are scheduled to host Zorya on the road in two days’ time and a victory would assure them the first position in the group with one game to play.
Braga are currently trailing the Foxes in both points and the head-to-head after the 3-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium last month.
Their prospects of finishing top are dependent on them beating both Athens and Zorya in their next two games and hoping that the Foxes fail to win theirs.
Rangers – Group D:
Rangers and Benfica have eight points apiece, but the former are leading the standings, having scored more away goals (three) than the latter (two) in the head-to-head meetings.
They will play hosts to Standard Liege, who are five points behind them. A victory on Thursday would guarantee their last 32 place without depending on other results.
Steven Gerrard’s side may have to potentially win both of their remaining group stage matches to finish top, suppose Benfica are victorious in their respective games.
On the other hand, the Glasgow giants can secure the first position on Thursday itself, if their victory over Liege coincides with a surprise defeat for Benfica against Lech Poznan.
Celtic – Group H:
Neil Lennon’s men are already out of the competition after their worst run in the Europa League since the 2015/16 campaign when they finished fourth.
They are currently bottom with just one point after four matches, but they can still play spoilsport for the likes of AC Milan and Lille.
The Hoops will face runaway Serie A leaders AC Milan at San Siro on Thursday and a draw or win could dent the Rossoneri’s top-two hopes.
Lille are currently top of the group with eight points while Milan and Slavia Prague are behind them with seven and six points respectively.
Both Milan and Slavia still have to face each other and Celtic won’t be able to qualify with back-to-back wins as they are trailing the latter on the head-to-head.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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