EUROPA LEAGUE: HOW THINGS STAND

THERE were some comments about the high price on offer on Ludogorets at home to PSV and the reason is they're through.

Eight teams have qualified which means there are 16 places up for grabs as we enter matchday five.

I've nicked this from UEFA.com and it's basically a comprehensive rundown of how the groups stand. In fact it's a pretty good guide to look over before having a punt.

Group A

Three successive victories have taken Valencia through to the knockout phase with two games to spare and Swansea will join the Spanish club in the last 32 – and climb above them into first place – if they complete the double over them in south Wales.

Kuban and St Gallen must win to remain in contention – a draw would mean Swansea going through regardless of their result – and hope the Welsh club drop points. A draw against Valencia would be enough for Swansea should Kuban win.

Group B

Debutants Ludogorets have qualified for the last 32 and will clinch top spot if they avoid defeat at home to PSV. The Dutch club will join their hosts in the next round if they achieve a better result in Bulgaria than Chornomorets manage at home to already eliminated Dinamo Zagreb. Otherwise they will have to wait until matchday six when they host a Chornomorets side they defeated in Odessa.

Group C

Qualification in this section is already resolved with Salzburg and Esbjerg both guaranteed a place in the knockout phase and Elfsborg and Standard Liege eliminated. The Austrian club are bidding to become the first team to win all six games in a UEFA Europa League group stage twice and would win the section if they better Esbjerg's result.

Group D

Rubin's record of appearing in every UEFA Europa League knockout phase has continued and a point at home to Maribor will be enough for them to qualify as group winners. Should the Russian club avoid defeat, Wigan would join them in the round of 32 by winning against Zulte Waregem. The Belgian side will remain in the hunt with a draw and go second with a win.

Group E

As in Group C, the issue of qualification is already settled, with Fiorentina and Dnipro advancing through to the next stage and Pandurii and Paços Ferreira out of contention. Fiorentina will secure first place with a game to spare if they can extend their three-point advantage over Dnipro before the two teams meet in Florence on matchday six.

Group F

Eintracht require a win at Bordeaux to be certain of going through to the round of 32. A victory would also suffice for Maccabi Tel Aviv at APOEL while a score draw would also guarantee their safe passage unless Bordeaux beat Frankfurt – the only result that will keep the French club in contention. APOEL would move into second place with a victory.

Group G

Genk and Dynamo Kyiv are both well placed to qualify, with the winners of their encounter in Belgium guaranteed a place in the competition after Christmas – the home side would be confirmed as group winners if they prevail. Both teams will qualify with a draw – and Genk with a defeat – if Rapid-Thun also ends all square.

Group H

Home victories for Liberec and Sevilla, against opponents who are yet to register a win, will ensure both clubs' further participation in the spring. Indeed, the Spanish side can afford to draw with Estoril and still secure their passage, while a draw for Liberec against Freiburg may also suffice if Estoril fail to win in Seville.

Group I

Betis will make sure of a place in the round of 32 as group winners with a victory at Lyon. A Lyon win would take them through as long as Guimarães do not win away at Rijeka. Rijeka will be eliminated unless they take all three points.

Group J

Polish double winners Legia, the only team in the competition without a point or a goal, have been eliminated, and Apollon will join them unless they win away to group leaders Trabzonspor, for whom a point will secure a place in the round of 32. Lazio will also qualify if Apollon fail to win, though the Rome club can clinch qualification themselves by inflicting a fifth straight defeat on Legia.

Group K

With four wins out of four, Tottenham are already through, although they will need a win against eliminated Tromso to clinch top spot if Anzhi secure their own passage to the knockout phase with a victory at home to Sheriff. A point is all the Russian club require to guarantee second place but defeat will enable the Moldovan champions to go into matchday six still hoping to overhaul them.

Group L

A point is all that is required of both PAOK and AZ to make it through to the knockout phase and eliminate their respective opponents, Shakhter Karagandy and Maccabi Haifa. Even a victory apiece for the teams from Kazakhstan and Israel would leave qualification out of their own hands as the two front-runners meet in Salonika on matchday six.

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