- The play-off phase features teams that finished between ninth and 24th
- Previous winners Ajax and Porto are among the clubs taking part in this stage
- The winners over two legs head through to the last 16

The Europa League gets its turn on Thursday night, with drama expected from all eight first-leg ties in the play-offs.

The round features the sides who finished between ninth and 24th in the league phase.

FC Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad (Thursday, 5.45pm)

FC Midtjylland drew 2-2 at home to Fenerbahce on matchday eight and a similar result could be on the cards against Real Sociedad.

La Real won three of their last four to recover from a poor start in the league phase and beat Espanyol 2-1 on Sunday.

They have lost their last three away games but scored in the most recent two and can hold their hosts before completing the job next week in the Basque Country.

Score prediction: FC Midtjylland 2-2 Real Sociedad

Fenerbahce vs Anderlecht (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Things are never dull with Fenerbahce, but Jose Mourinho seems to be channelling the frantic energy around the club with them unbeaten in 12 in all competitions.

Their large yet talented squad could go deep into this competition and in Mourinho they have a coach who has won the Europa League twice.

Visitors Anderlecht were unbeaten in their first six league phase games but lost to Viktoria Plzen and Hoffenheim to miss out on the top eight and were one of three teams who matched Rangers' 14 points but fell short on goal difference.

It will be a red-hot atmosphere in Istanbul and Fener can take a giant stride towards qualification.

Score prediction: Fenerbahce 3-1 Anderlecht

Ferencvaros vs Viktoria Plzen (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Fernecvaros beat AZ Alkmaar 4-3 at home to finish 17th in the standings, but have not won in three domestic games since (D2, L1).

Viktoria Plzen lost 3-1 in Bilbao in their final away match in the league phase, but had previously beaten Dynamo Kyiv in Hamburg and recorded draws against Eintracht Frankfurt and PAOK.

A share of the spoils will suit them, but there could still be plenty of entertainment in Budapest.

Score prediction: Ferencvaros 2-2 Viktoria Plzen

Union Saint-Gilloise vs Ajax (Thursday, 5.45pm)

A first meeting between these two Benelux sides, as Ajax head across the Dutch-Belgian border to face Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels.

USG's usual Joseph Marien Stadium home does not meet the UEFA criteria, so they head to the outskirts of town to the King Baudouin Stadium.

However, they beat Liverpool at Anderlecht's Lotto Park last season and have seen off Nice and Braga at the Baudouin this term.

Meanwhile, Ajax have lost on the road to Real Sociedad and Rigas FS and could be vulnerable.

Score prediction: Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 Ajax

AZ Alkmaar vs Galatasaray (Thursday, 8pm)

AZ Alkmaar have won their last three games and took 10 of 12 available points at home in the Europa League league phase.

Their only slight blip was a 1-1 draw against a mercurial Galatasaray side that could rotate to give some of their fringe players opportunities to shine.

AZ are generally strong at home and could grab a victory – before potentially being outclassed in Istanbul. 

Score prediction: AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Galatasaray

FC Porto vs Roma (Thursday, 8pm)

Previous Champions League regulars Porto and Roma meet at the Dragao, with Roma aiming to grab a first European away win of the season.

Claudio Ranieri has overseen an improvement since returning for a second spell in charge at the Stadio Olimpico in November. 

Porto have made an even more recent managerial change after Martin Anselmi's appointment last month.

Anselmi has overseen draws in two of his three games and another tie could be on the cards. 

Score prediction: Porto 1-1 Roma

FC Twente vs Bodo/Glimt (Thursday, 8pm)

Bodo/Glimt were another of the unlucky sides to finish outside the top eight despite finishing on 14 points and take on Twente, who beat Malmo and Besiktas in their final league phase games to finish 23rd.

The Enschede outfit were previously poor at De Grolsch Veste drawing with Fener and losing to Lazio and USG, before Daan Rots scored the only goal against Besiktas.

Bodo won in Braga and drew with USG and Nice, losing only at Manchester United.

Twente have looked vulnerable in recent games, conceding a combined five times in draws with Go Ahead Eagles and Heerenveen and another score draw could be the outcome here.

Score prediction: FC Twente 2-2 Bodo/Glimt

PAOK vs FCSB (Thursday, 8pm)

The final club to finish the league phase on 14 points but miss out on the top eight were Romania's FCSB, who were undone 2-0 at home by Man Utd on matchday eight.

They face familiar foes in PAOK, who they beat 1-0 in October, with Daniel Birligea netting the only goal at Stadio Toumbas.

PAOK subsequently beat Ferencvaros and Slavia Prague at home and Saturday's 5-0 win at OFI hints that they can turn the tables.

Score prediction: PAOK 2-0 FCSB