Lazio finished top of the Europa League group stage despite a 1-0 defeat at Sporting Braga on Thursday as the Portuguese side failed to secure a playoff spot.

Braga completes Europa League journey in 25th place, missing out on qualification to knockout phase playoffs - Anadolu Ajansı

Fenerbahce and Porto avoided early exits from the Europa League on Thursday, as Lazio topped the standings and Braga crashed out.

Lazio suffered an unlucky and ultimately irrelevant defeat to SC Braga, as they still topped the Europa League table in this opening phase.The Aquile were the only side already guaranteed a place in

The Europa League's inaugural league phase ended on Thursday, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who are both producing lackluster domestic campaigns, securing a round of 16 spot. Italy's Lazio finished top of the standings despite suffering their first loss,

Lazio coach Marco Baroni insists he will ‘retain my optimism’ after the chaotic 2-1 home defeat to Fiorentina and refuses to use the Europa League strain as ‘an alibi.’

Lazio won the first ever Europa League opening League Phase, but while Roma will face FC Porto or Ferencvaros in the play-offs, there could be a Derby della Capitale in the Round of 16.This is the

Lazio finished top of the Europa League group stage despite a 1-0 defeat at Sporting Braga on Thursday as the Portuguese side failed to secure a playoff spot. Braga opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Ricardo Horta fired into the bottom corner from Victor Gomez's cross.