Roma and Bologna guarantee Europa League play-off spots

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated Jan 22, 2026 5:41 PM ET

Roma and Bologna are already guaranteed a spot in the Europa League play-offs, but the Giallorossi need just one point to be sure of a top eight finish.

The tournament has completed seven of the eight rounds in the league phase, which decide who goes through to the knockout element.

There will be two Italian sides continuing in the Europa League in February, as both Roma and Bologna locked down a place in the play-offs tonight.

Europa League progress for Roma and Bologna

BOLOGNA, ITALY – JANUARY 22: Thijs Dallinga of Bologna Emil Holm of Bologna FC scores the 1-2 goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Roma’s 2-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart took them up to sixth place, and they need just one point from their final trip to Panathinaikos to be sure of a top eight finish.

That would guarantee direct access to the Round of 16 in March, by-passing the play-offs.

Bologna were held to a 2-2 draw by Celtic, which saw them slide down the standings to 15^th position on 12 points.

As things stand, they are still top seeds in the play-offs ahead of their last game against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 22: AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between AS Roma and VfB Stuttgart at Stadio Olimpico on January 22, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Europa League table

Rank	Teams	Played	Goal difference	Points
1	Lyon	7	11	18
2	Aston Villa	7	7	18
3	Freiburg	7	7	17
4	Midtjylland	7	8	16
5	Braga	7	6	16
6	Roma	7	7	15
7	Ferencvárosi	7	5	15
8	Betis	7	5	14
9	Porto	7	4	14
10	Crvena zvezda	7	1	13
11	PAOK	7	5	12
12	Stuttgart	7	5	12
13	Celta	7	4	12
14	Bologna	7	4	12
15	Nottingham Forest	7	4	11
16	Viktoria Plzeň	7	4	11
17	Fenerbahçe	7	3	11
18	Panathinaikos	7	2	11
19	Genk	6	1	10
20	Dinamo Zagreb	7	-2	10
21	Lille	7	2	9
22	Brann	7	-1	9
23	Young Boys	7	-5	9
24	Celtic	7	-4	8
25	Ludogorets	7	-4	7
26	Feyenoord	7	-3	6
27	Basel	7	-3	6
28	RB Salzburg	7	-4	6
29	FCSB	7	-7	6
30	Go Ahead Eagles	7	-8	6
31	Rangers	7	-7	4
32	Sturm Graz	7	-7	4
33	Nice	7	-7	3
34	Utrecht	6	-6	1
35	Malmö	7	-10	1
36	Maccabi Tel Aviv	7	-17	1

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