by Already past the halfway point of the group stage of the European Leaguesolo tanning two teams have already sealed their ticket for the next round. However, neither of these two teams has yet secured direct access to the round of 16. It is worth remembering that all group winners go to the round of 16while The second classified will play an extra round as a play-off against those eliminated from the Champions League.
2 of the 16 teams are already known they will go round in the Europa League. In Group H, Bayer Leverkusen was the first to do its homework after beating Qarabag in the 94th minute. The German team leads the group with 12 points, followed by Molde and Qarabag, both with 6.
As there is a direct confrontation between the two still pending, Xabi Alonso’s men are already classified. However, Molde’s victory against Häcken postpones mathematical leadership of Leverkusen (and the direct pass to the second round) until the next day.
The other team already classified after the dispute on the fourth day is Atalanta. Italians live a situation similar to that of Germans. They lead Group D with 10 pointswith Sporting de Portugal second with 7 and Sturm Graz third with 4. By having to play Portuguese and Austrians against each other, one of the two would never catch up to Atalanta.
However, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men still have to secure the lead to avoid the extra round against a Champions League team.
