Overview
- Roma finished eighth after a 1-1 draw at Panathinaikos, surviving Gianluca Mancini’s 15th-minute red card before Ziolkowski’s late equaliser secured direct qualification.
- Bologna beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-0 on a neutral field in Backa Topola but ended 10th and must go through the playoffs as a seeded team.
- The Nyon draw paired Bologna with Norway’s Brann, with the first leg on February 19 and the return at the Dall’Ara on February 26.
- UEFA rules allow domestic matchups in the knockout phase, so a Roma–Bologna meeting is possible depending on playoff results and the February 27 draw.
- Lyon, Aston Villa, Midtjylland, Real Betis, Porto, Braga, Freiburg and Roma advanced directly, with round-of-16 ties scheduled for March 12 and 19.