The Europa League play-offs on television
On Thursday 26 February, the second legs of the Europa League play-offs will be played at 5.45 p.m. and 8 p.m.
While Tuesday and Wednesday are reserved for the Champions League, the Europa League takes centre stage on Thursday with the second legs of the play-offs. Four matches will be played at 5:45 p.m. and another four at 8:00 p.m. In the first match, Red Star will defend the one-goal advantage they earned in France against Lille, making the Serbs favourites to advance to the round of 16.
Ludogorets, meanwhile, won 2-1 against Ferencvaros, so the Hungarians are hoping to turn the tie around with the support of their fans. The tie that seems to be all but decided is the one between Stuttgart and Celtic Glasgow, after the Germans' resounding 4-1 win in Scotland.
In the fourth and final match of the first round, Viktoria Plzen and Panathinaikos will play a single-match tie in the Czech Republic after a 2-2 draw in Greece a week ago. It is expected to be a thrilling duel that could go either way.
5:45 p.m. Europa League play-off second leg matches
- Red Star - Lille (TNT Sports, TNT Sports 6 and Discovery+)
- Ferencvaros - Ludogorets (TNT Sports, TNT Sports 7 and Discovery+)
- Viktoria Plzen - Panathinaikos (TNT Sports, TNT Sports 5 and Discovery+)
- Stuttgart - Celtic Glasgow (TNT Sports, TNT Sports 2 and Discovery+)
A formality for Nottingham Forest
In the 8:00 p.m. matches, the home teams won their away games, so they go into the second leg with an advantage and the support of their fans. Bologna beat Brann with a solitary goal, so it would be a big surprise if the Italians failed to qualify for the Europa League round of 16.
Similarly, Celta Vigo also has a one-goal advantage after beating PAOK 2-1. The Galicians are superior and should secure their qualification. For their part, Genk beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-1, so it would be a surprise if the Belgians were not in the draw for the round of 16, which will take place on Friday 27 February at 12:00.
As for the English representative, Nottingham Forest, they beat Fenerbahçe 3-0 in Turkey. This means they have one foot in the next round and Thursday's match at City Ground should be a formality and not cause them too many headaches.
8 p.m. Europa League play-off second leg matches
- Bologna - Brann (TNT Sports, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 5 and Discovery+)
- Celta Vigo - PAOK (TNT Sports, TNT Sports 7 and Discovery+)
- Genk - Dinamo Zagreb (TNT Sports, TNT Sports 6 and Discovery+)
- Nottingham Forest - Fenerbahçe (TNT Sports, TENT Sports Ultimate, TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+)
