The UEFA Europa League play-off second legs 2026/27 are played on Thursday, 27 August, with 12 places in the 36-team league phase still available. Two ties are level, three are separated by one goal, Benfica carry a two-goal lead, and six clubs start the return leg at least three goals ahead.
The first legs were played on 20 August. For the route into this round and the full play-off pairings, see SportPesa South Africa’s Europa League third qualifying round results and play-off fixtures.
Europa League play-off second legs: fixtures and aggregate scores
Kick-off times below are shown in South African Standard Time (SAST).
| SAST | Second leg | First-leg result | Aggregate position |
| 18:00 | Ararat-Armenia vs Universitatea Craiova | Craiova 1-1 Ararat-Armenia | Level |
| 18:00 | Iberia Tbilisi vs Jagiellonia Białystok | Jagiellonia 4-0 Iberia | Jagiellonia +4 |
| 19:00 | Omonia vs Sint-Truidense | Sint-Truidense 1-0 Omonia | Sint-Truidense +1 |
| 19:00 | Viktoria Plzeň vs Crvena Zvezda | Crvena Zvezda 3-0 Plzen | Crvena Zvezda +3 |
| 19:00 | Lillestrøm vs Egnatia | Egnatia 0-0 Lillestrøm | Level |
| 19:00 | Salzburg vs Mjällby | Mjällby 0-1 Salzburg | Salzburg +1 |
| 19:00 | Kauno Žalgiris vs Beşiktaş | Beşiktaş 3-0 Kauno Žalgiris | Beşiktaş +3 |
| 20:00 | Thun vs Lech Poznań | Lech Poznań 7-0 Thun | Lech Poznań +7 |
| 20:00 | Aarhus vs Benfica | Benfica 3-1 Aarhus | Benfica +2 |
| 20:00 | CSKA Sofia vs OFI Crete | OFI Crete 3-0 CSKA Sofia | OFI Crete +3 |
| 20:30 | Ferencváros vs Trabzonspor | Trabzonspor 0-1 Ferencváros | Ferencváros +1 |
| 20:30 | Anderlecht vs Kairat Almaty | Kairat Almaty 0-3 Anderlecht | Anderlecht +3 |
Qualification picture after the first legs
| Tie status | Clubs |
| Level | Universitatea Craiova vs Ararat-Armenia; Egnatia vs Lillestrøm |
| One-goal lead | Salzburg; Ferencváros; Sint-Truidense |
| Two-goal lead | Benfica |
| Three-goal lead | Anderlecht; Beşiktaş; Crvena Zvezda; OFI Crete |
| Four-goal lead | Jagiellonia Białystok |
| Seven-goal lead | Lech Poznań |
The clearest pressure is on the five ties that are level or separated by a single goal. Benfica have more protection at 3-1, while the sides holding leads of three goals or more can progress even with a defeat, provided the aggregate margin remains in their favour.
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Five ties remain level or within one goal
Universitatea Craiova and Ararat-Armenia start the second leg at 1-1, while Egnatia and Lillestrøm are level at 0-0. A win in the return match sends either side through. If the aggregate score is level after 90 minutes, the tie goes to extra time and, if still level, penalties.
Salzburg, Ferencváros and Sint-Truidense each hold a 1-0 advantage. Their opponents need one unanswered goal to bring the aggregate score level; a second changes the tie completely. UEFA no longer uses the away-goals rule, so an aggregate draw is not broken by where the goals were scored.
Benfica take a 3-1 lead to Aarhus
Benfica travel to Denmark with a two-goal advantage after winning 3-1 in Lisbon. Aarhus need to reduce that deficit before the tie can move into extra time territory. Benfica reached the play-offs after beating Hearts 7-2 on aggregate in the previous round; SportPesa South Africa covered that run in its Europa League third qualifying round preview.
Six clubs start with leads of three goals or more
Anderlecht, Beşiktaş, Crvena Zvezda and OFI Crete each carry a three-goal lead into the return leg. Jagiellonia Białystok are four goals ahead of Iberia Tbilisi, while Lech Poznań hold the largest advantage after beating Thun 7-0.
The arithmetic is straightforward: Lech can lose by six goals and still qualify, Jagiellonia can lose by three, and the four teams leading by three can lose by two without surrendering the aggregate lead. The chasing teams therefore need an early shift in the scoreline to reopen their ties.
READ ALSO : UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round: Latest Results and Play-Off Fixtures
How are level Europa League play-off ties decided?
There is no away-goals rule in UEFA club competitions. If the two teams finish level on aggregate after 90 minutes of the second leg, they play two 15-minute periods of extra time. If the aggregate score is still level, a penalty shoot-out decides which club qualifies.
What happens after the Europa League play-offs?
The 12 aggregate winners qualify for the UEFA Europa League league phase. The 12 defeated clubs transfer directly into the UEFA Conference League league phase, so their European season continues.
The Europa League league-phase draw is on Friday, 28 August. The 36-team field is completed by the qualifying winners and clubs transferring from Champions League qualifying. For that crossover, see the Champions League play-off update and SportPesa South Africa’s 2026/27 Champions League guide.
Each Europa League club will play eight league-phase matches: four at home and four away. Matchday 1 is scheduled for 16 and 17 September 2026.
Follow the Europa League on SportPesa South Africa
For live scores, lineups, fixtures and match statistics during the second legs, use the SP Score App. The SportPesa App provides access to live football and available betting markets.
Where markets are available, view the current UEFA Europa League betting odds on SportPesa South Africa. Odds and market availability can change before kick-off and during live play. 18+ only. Bet responsibly.
READ ALSO : 2026/27 UEFA Champions League: Qualified teams, format, key dates and teams to watch
Conclusion
The UEFA Europa League play-off second legs 2026/27 decide the final 12 qualifying places on 27 August. Five ties are level or separated by one goal, Benfica lead by two, and six clubs hold advantages of three goals or more; winners reach the Europa League league phase and defeated sides continue in the Conference League.
