The UEFA Europa League delivered a night of thrilling football action on March 6, 2025, with eight exciting Last 16 encounters that featured surprising upsets and decisive victories. The matches produced fascinating storylines across Europe with underdogs claiming significant scalps while other favorites managed to secure important advantages. The evening's fixtures saw a total of 22 goals scored across the eight matches, demonstrating the attacking mentality adopted by most teams in this round of the competition.
In what must be considered the surprise of the matchday, Dutch side AZ Alkmaar secured a precious 1-0 victory over Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur at the AFAS Stadio. The hosts took an early lead through Denso Kasius who found the net in just the 9th minute, giving the Dutch side a dream start against their more illustrious opponent. The match took another turn when Tottenham's young midfielder Lucas Bergvall inadvertently directed the ball into his own net in the 18th minute, although this appears to have been ruled out or attributed differently in the final scorelin. Despite enjoying 62% possession, Tottenham struggled to convert their dominance into goals, managing just one shot on target compared to AZ's fiv. Spurs manager made changes in the second half, introducing Wilson Odobert in place of Mathys Tel at the 46-minute mark and bringing on Rodrigo Bentancur in the 62nd minute, but these substitutions failed to spark a comebac. The result gives AZ a slender advantage to take into the return leg in London.
French side Olympique Lyonnais demonstrated their European pedigree with an impressive 3-1 away victory against Romanian champions FCSB (formerly known as Steaua Bucharest. The comprehensive victory puts Lyon in a commanding position ahead of the second leg in France. The Ligue 1 outfit showed their superior quality throughout the match, taking a half-time lead before extending their advantage in the second perio. Despite FCSB managing to score a consolation goal to give their supporters something to cheer about, Lyon's three away goals make them overwhelming favorites to progress to the quarter-finals. This result continues Lyon's strong European campaign this season and establishes them as serious contenders for the trophy.
Scottish giants Rangers produced one of the standout performances of the round, securing a convincing 3-1 victory against Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe in Istanbu. This impressive away win gives the Glasgow side a significant advantage heading into the return leg at Ibrox. The Turkish side took the lead to send their passionate supporters into raptures, but Rangers showed remarkable resilience to not only equalize but go on to score two more goals and claim a decisive victor. The hostile atmosphere at Fenerbahçe's Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium is notorious for intimidating visiting teams, making Rangers' achievement even more noteworthy. The result represents a significant step toward the quarter-finals for the Scottish Premiership side.
In what was perhaps the most evenly contested fixture of the matchday, Real Sociedad and Manchester United played out a tense 1-1 draw at the Reale Arena in San Sebastia. Both teams had opportunities to win the match but ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils, leaving the tie perfectly balanced ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford. The Spanish side demonstrated why they have become one of La Liga's most consistent performers in recent seasons, matching the Premier League giants throughout an absorbing contest. Manchester United will feel confident about their chances of progression with the support of their home crowd in the second leg, but Real Sociedad have proven they have the quality to cause problems for the English side.
German side Eintracht Frankfurt secured a valuable 2-1 away victory against Dutch giants Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Aren. This result gives the Bundesliga outfit an important advantage heading into the second leg in Germany. Ajax, despite their proud European pedigree, have struggled to recapture their former continental glory in recent seasons. The Amsterdam side took the lead but couldn't maintain their advantage as Frankfurt demonstrated the resilience and tactical discipline that has characterized German teams in European competition. The return leg in Frankfurt now sees the German side in pole position to advance to the quarter-finals, though Ajax's away goal keeps their hopes alive.
Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt produced one of the most emphatic performances of the round, defeating Greek side Olympiakos Piraeus 3-0 at the Aspmyra Stadio. The impressive victory puts the Norwegian side in a commanding position to reach the quarter-finals. Playing on their artificial surface under the lights of their compact stadium, Bodø/Glimt have become one of European football's most fascinating success stories in recent years. Their high-intensity pressing game and fluid attacking movements proved too much for the Greek champions to handle. Olympiakos now face a mountain to climb in the return leg in Greece if they are to overturn this substantial deficit.
Italian giants Roma secured a narrow 2-1 victory against Spanish side Athletic Club at the Stadio Olimpic. The win gives Roma a slender advantage to take to Bilbao for the second leg. In what was a tactical battle between two sides with rich European traditions, Roma managed to emerge victorious despite facing considerable pressure from the Basque outfit. Athletic Club's away goal could prove crucial when the teams meet again at the San Mamés stadium, where the Spanish side traditionally performs strongly with the backing of their passionate supporters. The tie remains delicately poised with both teams still harboring realistic ambitions of progression.
Italian side Lazio traveled to the Czech Republic and returned with a valuable 2-1 victory against Viktoria Plzeň. This away win puts the Serie A side in a strong position ahead of the return leg in Rome. Lazio demonstrated their superior quality throughout the match, though the Czech champions proved they weren't overawed by their more illustrious opponents. Plzeň's goal gives them a glimmer of hope for the second leg, but Lazio will be confident of completing the job at the Stadio Olimpico where they have been formidable in European competition this season. The Italian side's experience at this level was evident in how they managed the game after taking the lead.
These first-leg results have set up intriguing return fixtures, with several ties still hanging in the balance. Rangers, Lyon, and Bodø/Glimt have established the most commanding advantages, while the contests between Real Sociedad and Manchester United, Roma and Athletic Club, and AZ Alkmaar and Tottenham remain finely poised. The second legs promise more drama and excitement as teams battle for a place in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, bringing us one step closer to determining who will lift the trophy in late May. For neutral football fans, this round of matches has already delivered memorable moments, tactical intrigue, and outstanding individual performances across the continent.