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Paulo Dybala’s brilliance helped Roma secure their place in the Europa League last 16 with a 4-3 aggregate win over Porto, while 10-man Ajax endured a nerve-wracking extra-time battle to eliminate Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday.
Samu Aghehowa gave Porto the lead in Rome after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, but Dybala swiftly turned the tie around with two quick goals. The visitors’ hopes faded further when Canada international Stephen Eustaquio was sent off early in the second half. Niccolo Pisilli added a third for Claudio Ranieri’s side before an own goal by Devyne Rensch in stoppage time confirmed Roma’s progression.
“Having a champion like Dybala means a lot. He’s extraordinary, a leader in his own way,” Ranieri told Sky Sport. Roma will learn their next opponent—either Athletic Bilbao or city rivals Lazio—when the last-16 draw takes place on Friday.
Ajax, meanwhile, narrowly avoided a shock elimination after playing with 10 men for 95 minutes. They carried a 2-0 lead into their second leg against Union Saint-Gilloise but saw their advantage crumble after Kevin Mac Allister’s header and a penalty from Promise David. Ajax captain Davy Klaassen had been sent off early for a deliberate handball, further complicating their task. However, Kenneth Taylor’s penalty in extra time sealed a 3-2 aggregate win.
In other matches, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce advanced with a 5-2 aggregate victory over Anderlecht, despite a 2-2 draw marred by first-half crowd trouble in Belgium.
Real Sociedad cruised past Midtjylland with a 5-2 win in Spain, completing a commanding 7-3 aggregate triumph. The La Liga side will now face either Manchester United or Tottenham in the next round.
Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt delivered one of the night’s most dramatic performances, overturning a first-leg deficit to beat Twente 5-2 after extra time and secure a 6-4 aggregate victory.
The tie appeared to be slipping away before Bodo/Glimt scored twice in stoppage time. Twente then forced extra time with a late equaliser, but Sondre Brunstad Fet restored the hosts’ lead in the 111th minute before a second own goal from Twente sealed the result.
Meanwhile, Ferencvaros, managed by Robbie Keane, crashed out after a 3-0 defeat at Viktoria Plzen, undoing their 1-0 first-leg win. AZ Alkmaar secured a 6-3 aggregate victory over Galatasaray, while FCSB dispatched PAOK 4-1 over two legs.
In the Europa Conference League, Real Betis booked their spot in the last 16 despite a 1-0 home loss to Gent. Barcelona loanee Vitor Roque saw red before Archie Brown netted a late winner for the Belgian side, but Betis’ 3-1 first-leg cushion was enough.
Copenhagen knocked out Heidenheim 4-3 on aggregate with a 3-1 extra-time victory in Germany, while Molde edged Shamrock Rovers in a tense penalty shootout after their tie finished 1-1.
Elsewhere, Panathinaikos left it late to dash Vikingur Reykjavik’s hopes, with Tete’s 95th-minute goal clinching a 3-2 aggregate win. Cypriot club Pafos progressed past Omonia Nicosia, while Bosnia’s Borac Banja Luka, Poland’s Jagiellonia Bialystok, and Slovenia’s Celje also advanced.
