Key storylines in Thursday’s Europa League games

Featuring AC Milan, Everton and Ostersunds

This season’s Europa League group stage finishes on Thursday. But there’s still plenty to be sorted out before then.

Before the final round of fixtures gets underway, the Coral News Team have taken a look at some of the key talking points…

The Battle for Top Spot

Atletico Madrid were one of the teams that dropped into the Europa League on Tuesday night. They could be joined by the likes of Napoli and Borussia Dortmund.

Those three teams would be amongst the best in the competition. No one will want to draw them in the knockout stages. Dortmund would almost certainly be unseeded after picking up only two points. But finishing top of the group could allow clubs to avoid Atletico or Napoli in the next round.

Top spot is still up for grabs in seven of the 12 groups. It could make a huge difference.

Can Gattuso start to turn things around at AC Milan?

Gennaro Gattuso’s first game in charge of AC Milan turned into a nightmare. The Serie A giants were 2-1 up going into injury time against bottom-of-the-league Benevento.

Benevento hadn’t even won a point in the league so far this season. But their goalkeeper headed in a 95th-minute equaliser to seal a 2-2 draw. It was a terrible start to the Milan legend’s tenure at the San Siro.

Unlike in domestic action, Milan have done well in Europe this term. They’ve already sealed top spot in Group D. But Gattuso will be desperate to get a first win on the board at 6/5 away to Rijeka.