Athletic Bilbao secures successful group stage in Europa League

Athletic Bilbao completed a successful group stage for Spanish teams in the Europa League, securing their spot in the round of 32 with a 2-0 victory over Zorya Lugansk in Ukraine on Thursday, on the sixth and final matchday of Group J.

Real Sociedad needed a win on Thursday to top their group (L), but they lost 3-1 at home to Russian side Zenit, who finished first with 16 points compared to the Spanish team's 12.

Villarreal, on the other hand, had already secured first place in Group A and their match was merely a formality, with many substitutes and academy players taking the field. They suffered a meaningless 1-0 defeat at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv.