The Europa League playoffs have been filled with excitement and drama, with several teams advancing to the last 16 amidst crowd trouble and suspensions. One of the most notable matches was between Anderlecht and Fenerbahce, which was suspended for 20 minutes due to a security issue. The match was interrupted in the first half, with Fenerbahce leading 1-0, after a fight broke out between the two sets of supporters. The players were taken off the pitch, and the game resumed 20 minutes later, with Anderlecht equalizing in the 19th minute through Luis Vazquez.
Despite the disruption, Fenerbahce managed to restore their three-goal advantage, with Yusuf Akcicek scoring the equalizer on the night. The Turkish side will face either Rangers or Olympiacos in the last 16, with the draw taking place on Friday. Other teams that advanced to the last 16 include Ajax, who scraped through against Union Saint-Gilloise, and Real Sociedad, who thrashed Midtjylland 5-2 on the night and 7-3 on aggregate. The Czech side Viktoria Plzen also beat Hungary's Ferencvaros 3-0 for a 3-1 aggregate victory.
The playoffs have been marked by several notable performances, including a double from Luka Sucic for Real Sociedad and a penalty from Kenneth Taylor for Ajax. However, the matches have also been marred by crowd trouble and suspensions, with several players being sent off, including Davy Klaassen for Ajax and Isak Amundsen for Molde. The Europa League has been filled with drama and excitement, and the last 16 promises to be just as thrilling, with several top teams competing for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The teams that have advanced to the last 16 will be looking to make a strong impression in the next round, with several high-profile matches scheduled to take place. The draw for the last 16 will be held on Friday, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the fixtures. With several top teams still in the competition, the Europa League is shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable tournament.
Here are the results from the Europa League playoffs:
- Anderlecht 2-2 Fenerbahce (agg: 2-5)
- Ajax 1-2 Union Saint-Gilloise (agg: 3-2)
- Real Sociedad 5-2 Midtjylland (agg: 7-3)
- Viktoria Plzen 3-0 Ferencvaros (agg: 3-1)
- Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Molde (agg: 1-1), Molde won on penalties
The last 16 of the Europa League promises to be an exciting and thrilling round, with several top teams competing for a spot in the quarterfinals.