The early games of the Europa League brought two big surprises: Hoffenheim and Napoli are out – Arsenal only saved themselves in the 88th minute.
Benfica brought Arsenal to the verge of elimination, giving the Gunners two away goals. But a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saved Arsenal 3-2 and thus promotion to the round of 16.
Napoli had to catch up on a 2-0 mortgage against the underdogs from Granada, but it was only a 2-1 home win – the end of the line for the southern Italians.
Also out are the ÖFB legionaries Florian Grillitsch and Christoph Baumgartner. Rapid group opponents Molde won 2-0 in Hoffenheim although the Germans dominated the entire game, but clouded out chance after chance.
Arsenal – Benfica Lisbon 3-2 (4-3 agg)
Glasgow Rangers – Royal Antwerp 5: 2 (Overall 9: 5)
Villarreal – Salzburg 1: 2 (total 1: 4)
Hoffenheim – Molde 0: 2 (total 3: 3)
Naples – Granada 2: 1 (total 2: 3)
Donetsk – Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 (3-0 agg)
ajax Amsterdam – Lille 2: 1 (4: 2)
