Europa League 2024-25: Dalot, Mainoo fire Manchester United into knockouts; Rangers, Roma book playoff spots

Europa League 2024-25: Dalot, Mainoo fire Manchester United into knockouts; Rangers, Roma book playoff spots

Manchester United cruised through to the Europa League knockout stages after goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo earned the Premier League side a 2-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest on Thursday.

Coming into the trip to Romania, United knew victory would guarantee it a top-eight finish in the league phase of the new-look Europa League, but the visitors struggled to create any openings of note in a poor first half.

The introduction of substitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo livened up Ruben Amorim’s side in the second half, with Dalot tapping United in front on the hour mark.

Mainoo’s smart finish eight minutes later killed off the hosts’ chances of claiming a major scalp, helping United to finish third in the standings, while the defeat meant Steaua must beat PAOK or Stuttgart in a playoff to reach the last 16.

United came into the trip to Romania unbeaten in its previous 12 group or league phase matches in the Europa League.

It appeared that record may be under threat as the hosts looked the more likely to score early on.

Mihai Popescu on the stretch somehow contrived to miss from close range from the first half’s most promising opening.

After the break, United’s changes helped it seal a comfortable success.

Mainoo squared for Dalot after a well-worked United move, before Garnacho set up Mainoo perfectly for the game-clinching second.

Amorim became only the second Manchester United manager to win his first four major European matches in charge, after Alex Ferguson in 1990. The manner of that latest victory, after a chaotic first few months in charge, will be welcome boost for the team. 

Nico Raskin headed the opener and Vaclav Cerny slotted a second as Rangers raised its game to beat Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 in Glasgow and go directly through to the Europa League last 16.

Belgian midfielder Raskin’s first goal of the season broke the ice in the 20th minute at Ibrox and Cerny calmly doubled the tally in the 55th as Rangers moved from 13th to eighth on goal difference after other results went their way.

The visitors, who pulled a goal back through Kevin Mac Allister in the 83rd and had a potential Franjo Ivanovic equaliser ruled out for offside after a VAR check, progressed to the playoffs in 21st place.

AS Roma secured their place in the Europa League playoffs with a 2-0 home win over German side Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, while the visitors still secured a top-eight position despite the loss.

Knowing that a win would guarantee their place in the knockout stages, Roma pressed forward with intensity and goals from Angelino and Eldor Shomurodov in each half sealed their advancement.

In the end, Roma secured a safe 15th-place finish, comfortably in the higher part of the playoff section, while Frankfurt concluded their league campaign in fifth.