13 - Real Sociedad and Manchester United played to the only draw in the Europa League on Thursday. A 1-1 stalemate in San Sebastian leaves us poised for an entertaining decider at Old Trafford. In what was a fairly even game, both teams ended up with 13 shots across the 90 minutes. It was also United's fourth draw in the competition so far, joint-most with Roma.
16 - Rangers produced another remarkable away performance as they defeated Fenerbahce 3-1 in Turkiye. The Scots, who recently fired Philippe Clement, are on the cusp of a second quarter-final appearance in four seasons. It leaves Jose Mourinho's men in serious danger of elimination. Having lost 2-0 to Athletic Club during the league phase, it now means that Fener have lost multiple European home games for the first time in 16 years.
12 - Olympique Lyon have put themselves in a great spot to progress as they beat FCSB 3-1 in Romania. Having made at least the quarter-finals in three of their last four UEL appearances, the French side have the tie in their hands. Lyon have also been impressive on the road - they are unbeaten in their last 12 Europa League away games. Their last defeat was a 1-0 reverse to Atalanta on matchday 6 in 2018/19.
18 - AZ Alkmaar took a step towards a first UEL quarterfinal in 11 years as the Dutch outfit earned a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at home. An own goal 18 minutes in proved to be the difference-maker in the Netherlands. Fittingly, it has been 18 years since AZ last beat a Premier League club in Europe. It came at this stage of the UEFA Cup - the Europa League's predecessor - as they topped Everton 2-0. This could be a good omen for them, as they did progress in that tie on away goals.
4 - Nine-man Lazio did it the hard way, but a last-minute strike from Gustav Isaksen saw them get past Viktoria Plzen 2-1 away. It leaves the Italians in the driver's seat going into the return leg. For Plzen, they have not won the first leg in any of their last four UEFA club competition knockout round ties. In the previous three, two of which ended in defeats, the Czech club failed to score.
10 - Perhaps the most incredible performance of Thursday night came from Bodo/Glimt, who got the better of Olympiakos Piraeus 3-0 at home. The Norwegians are on the cusp of a second-ever European quarter-final, and first in the UEL. In what is a peculiar stat, 10 of Olympiakos' last 11 European matches have seen at least one of them and/or their opponents held off the scoreboard. The sole exception in that run was their 1-1 draw with Rangers back on matchday 4.
6 - Like their city rivals, AS Roma also got a goal at the death to take a 2-1 win over Athletic Club. The Giallorossi, who have reached the UEL semi-finals in three of the last four seasons, head to the venue hosting the final hoping it will not be their only trip there this term. For Bilbao, they are six without a win on their trips to Italy. In fact, they have just one win there all-time across 12 matches. That came against Sampdoria in the first round of the 1996/97 UEFA Cup.
5 - Eintracht Frankfurt came from a goal down to earn a vital 2-1 away win in the Netherlands over Ajax. The 2021/22 winners are looking to make the Europa League quarter-finals in back-to-back appearances for the first time in 30 years. The troubles continue for Ajax though, who have lost for the fifth time in the UEL proper. That is the most of the 16 sides left in the competition. This is also the first time ever that the Dutch club have lost four European home games in the same season, qualifiers included.