Europa League: Meet the last eight

Thirty-six teams lined up on the start line for the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League proper, and this number has been whittled down to eight following the conclusion of the league phase, knockout phase play-offs and round of 16.

UEFA.com profiles the remaining contenders.

Athletic Club (ESP)

League phase position: 2
Round of 16: 4-3agg vs Roma
League phase record: W6 D1 L1 F15 A7
How they qualified: Fifth in Spanish Liga
Last season: Did not feature in UEFA club competition
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Runners-up (1976/77, 2011/12)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 85

Simon Hart, UEFA.com Athletic Club reporter: "Road to Bilbao" runs the final tagline and for Athletic Club the dream of playing the final in their home stadium, is now just two steps away. The 3-1 last-16 home victory against Roma, overturning a 2-1 first-leg loss, showed how impressively they tap into the passion of the noisy San Mamés – and reaffirmed that in Nico Williams they have a brilliant talent who can deliver in the big moments.

Bodø/Glimt (NOR)

League phase position: 9
Round of 16: 4-2agg vs Olympiacos
KO play-offs: 6-4agg, aet vs Twente
League phase record: W4 D2 L2 F14 A11
How they qualified: Champions League play-offs (L2-3agg vs Crvena Zvezda)
Last season: Conference League knockout round play-offs (L2-3agg vs Ajax)
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Quarter-finals (2024/25)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 47

Reporter view to follow.

Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)

League phase position: 5
Round of 16: 6-2agg vs Ajax
League phase record: W5 D1 L2 F14 A10
How they qualified: Sixth in German Bundesliga
Last season: Conference League knockout round play-offs (L3-4agg vs Union SG)
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Winners (1979/80, 2021/22)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 23

James Thorogood, UEFA.com Frankfurt reporter: Defeats at Lyon and Roma rocked Frankfurt's league phase campaign, but it was smooth sailing in the last 16 with victory in Amsterdam providing the foundations for a sensational 6-2 aggregate triumph against Ajax. A lot has changed since the German club won the Europa League title in 2022, but with great quality on the pitch and a phenomenal fan base off it, the Eagles appear primed for another deep run in this competition.

Lazio (ITA)

League phase position: 1
Round of 16: 3-2agg vs Viktoria Plzeň
League phase record: W6 D1 L1 F17 A5
How they qualified: Seventh in Italian Serie A
Last season: Champions League round of 16 (L1-3agg vs Bayern)
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Runners-up (1997/98)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 22

Francesco Corda, UEFA.com Lazio reporter: Lazio are back in the Europa League quarter-finals after a seven-year absence. The Biancocelesti powered through the league phase, finishing top, before coming through a stiff test against Viktoria Plzeň in the last 16 thanks to goals in each leg from Alessio Romagnoli. Marco Baroni, in his first major coaching role, has brought an attacking philosophy, utilising Mattia Zaccagni and Gustav Isaksen on the wings and the drive of Nuno Tavares.

Lyon (FRA)

League phase position: 6
Round of 16: 7-1agg vs FCSB
League phase record: W4 D3 L1 F16 A8
How they qualified: Sixth in French Ligue 1
Last season: Did not feature in UEFA club competition
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Semi-finals (2016/17)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 53

Alex Clementson, UEFA.com Lyon reporter: This has been a campaign punctuated by scintillating attacking performances against the likes of Rangers and in the last 16 versus FCSB. The Romanian side were dispatched in some style, that slick offence allied to resolute defence and a capacity to maintain concentration levels. With the instinctive brilliance of Rayan Cherki and Co going forwards, it feels like a special European campaign could be developing.

Manchester United (ENG)

League phase position: 3
Round of 16: 5-2agg vs Real Sociedad
League phase record: W5 D3 L0 F16 A9
How they qualified: English FA Cup winners
Last season: Champions League group stage
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Winners (2016/17)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 14

Steve Bates, UEFA.com Manchester United reporter: United have taken a serene, unbeaten path to the quarter-finals, and on the evidence of their 5-2 aggregate triumph over Real Sociedad, the English side are hitting their stride at just the right moment. The league phase was a slow burn, with early draws against Twente, Porto and Fenerbahçe, but since then they have looked calm and assured. In captain Bruno Fernandes they have an inspirational leader with a burning desire to repeat the club's 2017 triumph.

Rangers (SCO)

League phase position: 8
Round of 16: 3-3agg, 3-2pens vs Fenerbahçe
League phase record: W4 D2 L2 F16 A10
How they qualified: Champions League third qualifying round (L1-3agg vs Dynamo Kyiv)
Last season: Champions League play-offs, Europa League round of 16 (L2-3 vs Benfica)
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Runners-up (2007/08, 2021/22)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 27

Alex O'Henley, UEFA.com Rangers reporter: Once again Rangers have excelled in Europe while struggling for domestic consistency. Their best football has been reserved for Thursday nights in the Europa League, with notable away victories in Nice (4-1) and then at Fenerbahçe (3-1) in the first leg of their last-16 tie, the latter under interim manager Barry Ferguson. The 2021/22 runners-up will be underdogs against Athletic Club, but that doesn't usually stop them.

Tottenham (ENG)

League phase position: 4
Round of 16: 3-2agg vs AZ Alkmaar
League phase record: W5 D2 L1 F17 A9
How they qualified: Fifth in English Premier League
Last season: Did not feature in UEFA club competition
Best UEFA Cup/Europa League performance: Winners (1971/72, 1983/84)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 33

Mark Pettit, UEFA.com Tottenham reporter: Spurs made a blistering start to the league phase, winning their first three games, but results dipped as the number of injuries rose; it took January victories over Hoffenheim and Elfsborg to seal a top-eight berth. Ange Postecoglou's main focus is now Europe and, with the squad in healthier shape and the round of 16 successfully negotiated, hopes of a first European trophy since 1984 are on the rise.

UEFA coefficient rankings taken at the conclusion of the round of 16.