Manchester United sealed their place in the Europa League knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Steaua Bucharest on Thursday, thanks to goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo. The victory ensured United finished third in the standings, securing a direct spot in the next round, while Steaua now faces a playoff against either PAOK or Stuttgart to keep their European hopes alive.
Heading into the match, United knew that a win in Romania would guarantee a top-eight finish in the new-look Europa League format. However, a sluggish first half saw the visitors struggle to create clear chances. Steaua had the best opportunity early on, but Mihai Popescu failed to convert from close range.
The second half saw a marked improvement for Manchester United following the introduction of Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo. Their impact was immediate, as United began to dominate possession and create more meaningful attacks.
Dalot broke the deadlock on the hour mark, tapping in from close range after a well-worked move involving Mainoo. Just eight minutes later, Garnacho provided an assist for Mainoo, who finished smartly to double United’s lead and effectively end Steaua’s resistance.
The result extended United’s unbeaten run in Europa League group or league phase matches to 13 games. Manager Ruben Amorim also became only the second United boss to win his first four European games in charge, following in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson in 1990. After a rocky start to his tenure, this performance will be a morale boost for both the team and its supporters.
Rangers Overcome Union Saint-Gilloise to Secure Last 16 Spot
In Glasgow, Rangers claimed a crucial 2-1 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise to secure a direct place in the Europa League last 16. Goals from Nico Raskin and Vaclav Cerny helped the Scottish side move from 13th to eighth in the standings, as other results worked in their favor.
Raskin opened the scoring in the 20th minute with his first goal of the season, giving Rangers an early advantage. Cerny then doubled the lead in the 55th minute with a composed finish, seemingly putting the game beyond doubt.
Union Saint-Gilloise, however, fought back late in the game. Kevin Mac Allister pulled one back in the 83rd minute, and the visitors thought they had equalized when Franjo Ivanovic found the net. However, VAR ruled the goal out for offside, allowing Rangers to hold on for a crucial win. Union finished 21st, meaning they will have to navigate the playoffs to stay in the competition.
Roma Clinches Playoff Berth with Win Over Frankfurt
AS Roma also secured their place in the Europa League playoffs with a 2-0 home victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. Goals from Angelino and Eldor Shomurodov ensured Roma finished 15th in the standings, safely in the playoff zone.
Roma dominated from the start, knowing that a win would guarantee progression. Angelino struck in the first half, while Shomurodov sealed the victory after the break. Despite the loss, Frankfurt still secured a top-eight finish, ending their group phase in fifth place and advancing directly to the last 16.
With these results, Manchester United and Rangers have secured their spots in the Europa League knockout rounds, while Roma will battle in the playoffs to advance further in the competition.
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