Europa League: How Man United, Tottenham, Rangers can make top eight

The league phase of the new-look 36 -team Europa League is reaching its climax.

The teams in positions 1-8 go straight to the round of 16 and won't have to play games in February .

The clubs in places 9-24 will face the playoff round next month .

The highest-placed teams can't face each other until the latter stages of the knockout round.

Tottenham Hotspur are through with a victory at home to Elfsborg .

Tottenham could finish as high as second if Eintracht Frankfurt , Athletic Bilbao , Manchester United and Lyon fail to win.

Rangers must win to be sure of being seeded, and that could also send them into the to eight .

The round of 16 draw then takes place on Friday, Feb. 21 , when third and fourth would be drawn into opposite halves of the bracket -- which would create a fixture against a winner of a knockout playoff round tie. The teams placed 1st to 8th are seeded and will be at home in the second leg. First legs: March 6, 2025 Second legs: March 13 , 2025 The knockout bracket is now set. There is one more draw, straight after the round of 16 draw, to determine the home teams in the second leg for the quarterfinals and semifinals..