Europa League returns this week, for the final matchweek of the year, and like Champions League, the new League Phase is ramping up, with teams starting to take permanent places, particularly the two hot spots: around the 8th place, which grants direct qualification to the round of 16, and the 24th spot.
As it is the case in Champions League, those who finish between 9th and 24th get to play a knockout match, but those who finish 25th or below get relegated.
This week, one match will be played earlier than usual: Fenerbahçe (15th) welcomes Athletic Club (3rd). This match has been moved forward to avoid two matches being played at the same time in the city (Istanbul).
On Thursday, Istanbul Basaksehir also plays at home on Conference League against Heidenheim. In order for the local security forces to be able to manage properly the games, UEFA prevents that two football matches on Champions, Europa or Conference League being played the same day at the same city.
Istanbul actually has four clubs in European competitions: Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray y Besiktas at Europa League and Istanbul Basaksehir at Conference League.
Europa League fixture on Wednesday at 16:30 CET, 1 hour prior in UK time
Fenerbahçe vs Athletic Club
All Europa League fixtures for Thursday December 12
Games played at 18:45 CET, 1 hour prior in UK time
Roma vs Braga
Viktoria Plzeň vs Manchester United
Malmö vs Galatasaray
Olympiacos vs Twente
PAOK vs Ferencváros
Ludogorets vs AZ Alkmaar
Union SG vs Nice
Hoffenheim vs FCSB
Games played at 21:00 CET, 1 hour prior in UK time
Ajax vs Lazio
Porto vs Midtjylland
Bodø/Glimt vs Beşiktaş
Elfsborg vs Qarabağ
Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs RFS
Lyon vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Rangers vs Tottenham Hotspur
Real Sociedad vs Dynamo Kyiv
Slavia Praha vs Anderlecht