Olivier Ntcham celebrates after scoring a last-gasp goal to earn the Celtic's 2-1 victory over Lazio during the UEFA Europa League match in Rome, Italy, November 7, 2019. /VCG Photo
Manchester United, Sevilla and Celtic led a parade of clubs with continental pedigree to book the first places in this season's Europa League knockout stage as they all won on Thursday to reach the last 32.
But while 2017 winners United and Sevilla, who claimed three successive Europa League titles between 2014-16, advanced with ease, it was the Scots who provided the drama as a last-gasp Olivier Ntcham goal handed them a 2-1 win at Lazio.
Basle are also into the next stage where the top two in each of the 12 Europa League groups are joined by eight teams dropping out of the Champions League.
All the qualified teams are through with two games to spare.
Mason Greenwood (C) scores the opening goal for Manchester United against Partizan Belgrade during the UEFA Europa League match in Manchester, UK, November 7, 2019. /VCG Photo
Manchester United teenager Mason Greenwood put the three-time European champions ahead versus Partizan Belgrade at Old Trafford and a superb individual goal from Anthony Martial doubled the lead before halftime.
Marcus Rashford also scored with a fine strike in the 49th minute to complete a 3-0 victory in Group L and provide relief for under-fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
"We needed a win, but we needed a performance. The boys wanted to go forward, play forward, run forward. They could have had loads more tonight as well. But a pleasing performance, and very important for us to get the points," he told reporters.
United are the only team in this season's Europa League not to have conceded a goal, even if they gave first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea the day off on his 29th birthday.
Sevilla's Munir El Haddadi #11 celebrates with his teammate after scoring a goal against Dudelange during the UEFA Europa League match in Luxembourg, November 7, 2019. /VCG Photo
A hat-trick for Sevilla's Munir El Haddadi was supplemented by two goals from Munas Dabbur in a 5-2 away drubbing of Luxembourg's Dudelange as the Spaniards kept up their 100 percent record in Group A after racing into a 4-0 halftime lead.
Celtic, European champions over a half century ago, advanced from Group E as they fought back to clinch their first victory in Italy, with Frenchman Ntcham chipping oncoming goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha deep in stoppage time for the winner.
"This team keeps setting new boundaries for itself," said ecstatic manager Neil Lennon. "It's a historic night, and to come here and be as good as that and to have qualified after four games is unheard of for Celtic in Europe."