Trio secure comeback wins to advance
13 - Sporting Braga are back in the UEL quarter-finals four years on from their last appearance. The Portuguese club erased their 2-0 deficit from the first leg against Ferencvaros in the space of 15 minutes. They scored twice more to prevail 4-0 at home and 4-2 overall. There was no messing about from the 2011/12 finalists, who are two rounds away from returning there. Braga have now scored in their last 13 European home matches.
10 - After impressing for much of the league phase, the wheels came off the cart for Fradi in Portugal. They will depart the continental scene with much regret, knowing it was a glorious opportunity at a first European quarter-final in half a century. The Hungarians now have work to do in their domestic league if they are to retain the title there and potentially return to the UEL next term. They have now conceded 10 times against Portuguese opposition, all coming on the road.
20 - Freiburg overturned their first leg reverse as well, hitting five against Genk to win 5-1 in front of their home fans. That saw them move on 5-2 overall, making this season their best-ever European run. The Germans took advantage of their wasteful opponents as a three-goal haul in the second half decided the tie. The victory was also a milestone for the club, who have now won 20 games in UEFA club competition.
8 - What a missed chance for the Belgians, who had created more than enough chances across the two legs to progress. That will be the most difficult part for them, knowing just how close they were to pulling off a pretty decent scalp. While the Smurfs were pretty solid defensively for much of their UEL journey, they did concede nine goals in the four knockout round games. It was also the eighth time they let in five or more goals in a European match all-time.
5 - Despite finishing top of the league phase, Lyon fell at the first hurdle in knockout round play. Finishing the second leg down two men, L'OL were beaten 2-0 by Celta Vigo at Parc OL, with the aggregate score being 3-1 in favour of the Spaniards. Lyon's problems with LaLiga clubs continue, with their latest loss being quite detrimental. They are winless in their last five matches against Spanish teams (0-2-3).
21 - It has already been another solid season for Celta, who are in a European quarter-final for the second appearance in a row, nine years on from their last foray. They have proven to be quite difficult to beat, especially considering they like to score and score often. In what was their final game against French opposition this term, they finished unbeaten (3-1-0). Overall, Celta have scored 21 times, finding the back of the net in each of their games so far.
1 - Despite their ambition, FC Midtjylland's European campaign is over at the first hurdle once again. The Danes failed to hold onto their 1-0 advantage over Nottingham Forest from the first leg. They were beaten 2-1 at home, before missing all three of their penalties in the shootout to lose 3-0 on spot kicks. In five knockout round showings, the side from Herning has yet to prevail. After such a wonderful season, Midtjylland suffered a home defeat for the first time, and at the worst time.
3 - Nottingham Forest were the ones left celebrating at the MCH Arena on Thursday night as they matched their performance from their last European run three decades ago. The improvements continued from The Tricky Trees, who have bounced back from a disappointing league phase to make the last eight. While this is their first time competing in the Europa League under its current guise, this is the third time they will play in a quarter-final in this competition, when including the UEFA Cup.
Bologna grind out extra time victory
6 - Aston Villa finished off Lille with yet another clean sheet. The Villans got a pair of second half goals to prevail 2-0 at Villa Park and advance 3-0 overall. Just as they did in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals two years ago, Unai Emery's side advance at the expense of the Ligue 1 club. This time, they managed to win both legs. Villa's clean sheet at home was their sixth in Europe this season.
27 - Les Dogues once again falter at the hands of an English side, the fifth time they have been knocked out of Europe in a two-legged tie versus Premier League opposition. They are certainly tired of seeing one of them, with their poor record, making it all the more difficult. Lille lost for the 13th time in such matches on Thursday, with their goals conceded mark now at 27, more than teams from any other country.
22 - For the second season in a row, Real Betis will compete in a UEFA club competition quarter-final. Los Verdiblancos had to do it the hard way, though, coming back from a 1-0 loss to top Panathinaikos 4-0 and progressing 4-1 over the two legs. It was a dominant showing from last term's UECL finalists as they are in the last eight of the UEL for the very first time. In the 90 minutes, Betis mounted 22 shots on their opponents' goal.
19 - The theme of holding a narrow first leg lead, only for things to fall apart in the return fixture, proved to be Panathinaikos's flaw as well. Prassinoi were under the kosh from the get-go, and it showed as they attempted just four shots in the match. Their unbeaten run in the UEL is over as well, having gone eight without a loss. It is not often that the side from Athens concede four in a UEL match. The last time this occurred was 19 years ago against PSG.
12 - Porto are also into the last eight as Dragao are one step closer to becoming the fourth different team to win the Europa League on multiple occasions (under its current guise). Holding a 2-1 first leg advantage, Francesco Farioli's men finished off Stuttgart 2-0 in Portugal to advance 4-1 on aggregate. Their reward is their first quarter-final in the UEL in 12 years. Twelve also happens to be the number of goals they have scored in their five home games, all of which they have won.
4 - Stuttgart kept it close for much of the tie, but just could not find a way past a very strong Porto team. Just as was the case in 2012/13, when they last participated in the Europa League proper, VfB see their journey end at the round of 16. Their troubles with Portuguese opposition continue as well. After going unbeaten in their first three, Stuttgart are now on a four-game losing skid against teams from Portugal.
9 - What a thrilling tie in Italy, where AS Roma came from two goals down against Bologna, only to lose 4-3 in extra time at the Stadio Olimpico. That sees the Giallorossi fall 5-4 over two legs, marking their second straight exit from the UEL in the last 16. Roma have not enjoyed much success against fellow Italian teams in Europe, with this being the third time they have ended up losing the tie. Even though they scored three times at home, it was the first time in nine years that they did not come out on top in a European home match when they scored three or more goals.
11 - Bologna have pulled off an incredible feat, getting the better of a side who do not lose often at home. Still, Vincenzo Italiano's men march on and are one of two Serie A teams left in Europe. They are in the quarter-finals of the UEL, having reached this far twice in the UEFA Cup days. I Rossoblu have been nearly impossible to beat in the competition this term, with their win making it 11 unbeaten since their matchday 1 reverse.