Late goals were decisive for Lyon and Roma as the Europa League's first phase came to a close on Thursday, with the former topping the table and the latter inching into the round of 16.

Lyon entered matchday eight top of the 36-team standings and with their place in the last 16 already assured, but at one stage, it looked as though Midtjylland's 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb would be enough to overhaul them.

Lyon trailed at home to PAOK following Giorgos Giakoumakis' 33rd-minute strike, though Remi Himbert and Khalis Merah scored to flip the script.

Having had Giannis Konstantelias sent off for two bookable offences before half-time, PAOK drew back level via Frenchman Soualiho Meite, but they could not hold out as Giannis Michailidis conceded a penalty for his foul on Himbert, prompting visiting manager Razvan Lucescu to see red for foul and abusive language. 

Lyon's Adam Karabec struck the woodwork from that spot-kick but atoned with the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute, and Alejandro Rodriguez added a fourth in stoppage time.

Lyon finished ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference at the summit, with Midtjylland third and Real Betis, who defeated Feyenoord 2-1, ending up in fourth.

There was also a red card and late drama at the Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis, where Roma recovered to draw 1-1 with Panathinaikos and scrape a top-eight finish.

Roma trailed to Vicente Taborda's goal and played almost the entire match with 10 men following Gianluca Mancini's last-man foul in the 15th minute, but a bullet header from Jan Ziolkowski in the 80th minute took them straight into the last 16, without the need for a play-off.

Genk were the team that dropped below Roma on goal difference, despite beating Malmo 2-1, with Bologna and Stuttgart finishing 10th and 11th, respectively, following victories over Maccabi Tel Aviv and Young Boys. They will all be seeded, along with Nottingham Forest, for the play-offs.

Ludogorets beat Nice – who were already eliminated – 1-0 to jump into the play-off places, with Young Boys being dumped out on goal difference in 25th. 

Data Debrief: Roma dig deep

Roma had to display plenty of character to seal automatic progression to the last 16, avoiding defeat after receiving a red card within the first 15 minutes of a game for the first time since January 2010.

On that occasion, the Giallorossi saw goalkeeper Doni receive his marching orders 11 minutes in against Chievo Verona in Serie A, only to battle to a 1-0 success.

Among all Italian teams to participate in Europe within the last 10 seasons, Roma are the only one with a perfect record when it comes to progressing from the group or league stage.

They have done so 10 times in 10 attempts, across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.