With just one game remaining in the 2023/24 Europa League group stage, there is still plenty to play for across Europe. Some teams have already booked their place in the knockout stages by securing their spot as one of the top two sides in their group, but for others, it will be a tense finale on Thursday 14 December. With group winners heading straight into the round of 16, therefore avoiding the dreaded knockout round play-offs against teams that drop out of the Champions League, finishing in top spot can prove decisive in the Europa League. Let’s take a look at which teams have already booked their spot in the Europa League knockout stages.
**Group A**
West Ham United have secured their place in the next round of the Europa League but will have to battle Freiburg to finish first, with the two sides facing each other at the London Stadium in the final group game.
**Position** **Team** **Played** **Goal** **difference** **Points**
1. West Ham 5 +4 12
2. Freiburg 5 +12 12
3. Olympiacos 5 -6 4
4. Backa Topola 5 -10 1
**Group B**
Brighton have taken to European football kindly, securing their spot in the last 16 with one game to spare following a narrow win over AEK Athens. The Seagulls will welcome Marseille, who have also qualified, to the Amex Stadium in their final group game, knowing they need a victory to finish in top spot.
**Position** **Team** **Played** **Goal** **difference** **Points**
1. Marseille 5 +5 11
2. Brighton 5 +4 10
3. AEK Athens 5 -4 4
4. Ajax 5 -5 2
**Group C**
Rangers travel to Real Betis in their final game but only a win will guarantee their place in the knockout stages. A draw or even defeat could be enough for the Scottish side, but it depends on Sparta Prague’s result against Aris. Real Betis may be in pole position to qualify but if they lose to Rangers and Sparta win then they will drop out of the top two.
**Position** **Team** **Played** **Goal** **difference** **Points**
1. Real Betis 5 +3 9
2. Rangers 5 +1 8
3. Sparta Prague 5 0 7
4. Aris Limassol 5 -4 4
**Group D**
Atalanta have guaranteed themselves direct passage to the round of 16 having topped Group D. The Italian side will be joined by Sporting CP in the knockout rounds, although the Portuguese outfit will have to navigate the round of 32.
**Position** **Team** **Played** **Goal** **difference** **Points**
1. Atalanta 5 +4 11
2. Sporting CP 5 +1 8
3. Sturm Graz 5 -2 4
4. Rakow Czestochowa 5 -3 4
**Group E**
Liverpool guaranteed themselves top spot in Group E with a 4-0 win over LASK in their fifth group game, with their Austrian opponents now unable to progress in the Europa League. The Reds will be joined by either Union Saint-Gilloise or Toulouse, the latter looking most likely at present as they just need a point against LASK to qualify for the last 16.
**Position** **Team** **Played** **Goal** **difference** **Points**
1. Liverpool 5 +11 12
2. Toulouse 5 -2 8
3. Union Saint-Gilloise 5 -4 5
4. LASK 5 -5 3
**Group F**
Rennes are the current table-toppers in Group F and have booked their place in the knockout stages alongside Spain’s Villarreal. The pair face one another in France in the final group game. For Panathinaikos and Maccabi Haifa, it will be a battle for third and a Conference League play-off place.
**Position** **Team** **Played** **Goal** **difference** **Points**
1. Rennes 5 +8 12
2. Villarreal 5 +1 9
3. Panathinaikos 5 -2 4
4. Maccabi Haifa 5 -7 1
**Group G**
Group G has been settled in terms of qualification, with last year’s finalists Roma having secured their spot in the knockout rounds. They will be joined by Slavia Praha, who currently top the group with four victories from five. While Swiss side Servette didn’t progress, they have qualified for the Europa Conference League by finishing third in the group.
**Position** **Team** **Played** **Goal** **difference** **Points**
1. Slavia Praha 5 +9 12
2. Roma 5 +5 10
3. Servette 5 -5 5
4. Sheriff 5 -9 1
**Group H**
Bayer Leverkusen have waltzed through the group stage as the only side to win all five of their matches. Xabi Alonso’s men have secured top spot in the group and will move directly into the round of 16. The fight for second is between Qarabag and Molde, with both teams sat on seven points.
**Position** **Team** **Played** **Goal** **difference** **Points**
1. Bayer Leverkusen 5 +12 15
2. Qarabag 5 -3 7
3. Molde 5 +4 7
4. Hacken 5 -13 0
Team Country Position
Atalanta Italy 1st
Bayer Leverkusen Germany 1st
Liverpool England 1st
Brighton England 1st or 2nd
Freiburg Germany 1st or 2nd
Marseille France 1st or 2nd
Rennes France 1st or 2nd
Roma Italy 1st or 2nd
Slavia Praha Czech Republic 1st or 2nd
Villarreal Spain 1st or 2nd
West Ham England 1st or 2nd
Sporting CP Portugal 2nd