Porto host eliminated Rangers in final fixture
Porto strive to push into the league phase top eight when they host eliminated Rangers in the final Europa League fixture on Thursday night.
The hosts are ninth on the table with 14 points, outside the top eight on goal difference, while the visitors are 31st with four points.
Porto have enjoyed a largely superb 2025-26 campaign to date, being through to the semi-finals of the Taca de Portugal and into the knockout rounds of the Europa League.
Although Porto’s place in the knockout rounds is already assured, Francesco Farioli and his men are still battling for their place in the top eight as they aim to avoid the playoff knockout round.
Porto will be confident of claiming all three points on the league phase’s final matchday, with the hosts heading into this game off the back of 10 victories and one draw in their last 11 outings.
While Rangers have nothing other than pride to play for in terms of their Europa League campaign, Danny Rohl will be hoping his side can maintain their current momentum, with the Gers on an impressive eight-game winning run.
Porto are similarly on an impressive streak, while the hosts also boast a flawless home record in the Europa League this term, leading us to expect a home win.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Lyon can go top of the table with victory over PAOK
Lyon can claim the top seed heading into the Europa League knockout stage with a victory over PAOK at Groupama Stadium on the final matchday of the League Phase.
A 1-0 win at Young Boys on matchday seven kept the French side on top of the table with 18 points, while the Greeks, six points behind, are in 12th after a solid 2-0 win over Real Betis.
So far this year, Olympique Lyonnais have picked up where they left off in 2025, yet to drop a single point in a competitive fixture all month.
Coming into matchday eight, they are above Aston Villa for first on goal difference while riding an eight-match winning run across all competitions.
Lyon have won their last five home contests across all competitions and have not dropped a single point at Groupama Stadium in the tournament so far.
Never have they been beaten by a Greek side in Lyon, with Les Gones winning three of those four such home meetings all-time.
The Greeks have plenty of danger men to be wary of, but we trust the Lyon momentum and their rock-solid backline will do enough to earn the victory.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Villa to conclude their campaign against Red Bull Salzburg
After securing Europa League last-16 qualification last week, Aston Villa conclude their League Phase campaign against playoff hopefuls Red Bulls Salzburg at Villa Park.
While Unai Emery’s men sit second in the 36-team standings and are guaranteed a top-eight finish, Thomas Letsch’s side are down in 28th place but could still sneak into the top 24.
Aston Villa remain in the mix to win the Premier League title this season after they secured an impressive 2-0 victory away against Newcastle United on Sunday to move within four points of leaders Arsenal, who suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United.
Unai Emery’s side also claimed an important win just three days earlier in the Spaniard’s 100th Europa League match as a manager, with Villa beating Fenerbahce 1-0 in Turkey to ensure that they qualify directly for the last 16 with a game to spare.
Villa currently sit level on points with Lyon at the summit of the 36-team table having won six of their seven League Phase fixtures (against Fenerbahce, Basel, Young Boys, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Feyenoord and Bologna), with their only defeat suffered away against Go Ahead Eagles on matchday three.
Emery’s men will want to end their League Phase campaign on a positive note in front of their own fans, and even if a few star names are rested, they should still have enough quality in their side to claim maximum points on Thursday.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Struggling Lille welcome high-flying Freiburg
Fighting to keep their Europa League dreams alive, struggling Lille welcome high-flying Freiburg to Decathlon Arena in the League Phase.
Les Dogues suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign on the weekend, whilst Breisgau-Brasilianer picked up a much-needed home success in the Bundesliga.
After winning consecutive matches to conclude a productive 2025 schedule, Lille have commenced 2026 with a whimper, losing five straight contests across Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Europa League action.
Lille’s awful run of results also includes a Europa League loss at Celta Vigo on matchday seven, which leaves them languishing in 21st spot in the League Phase rankings, with only three points on Thursday good enough to guarantee a spot in the knockout stages.
Requiring a victory to guarantee a spot in the knockout stages, Lille should realise the importance of the situation and perform accordingly on Thursday night.
In a crushing blow to the trophy hopes of Lille this term, four-goal Europa League striker Igamane is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign owing to a serious knee injury.
Approaching the 250-game mark for Freiburg, stalwart Lukas Kubler is currently in the medical room because of a hamstring strain.
Freiburg will want to maintain their unbeaten status but are likely to lose out to Les Dogues, who are in desperate need of victory for the first time in 2026.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Aston Villa 20:00 Red Bull Salzburg
Go Ahead Eagles 20:00 Sporting Braga
Maccabi Tel Aviv 20:00 Bologna
Midtjylland 20:00 Dinamo Zagreb
Nottingham Forest 20:00 Ferencváros
