Europa League roundup: Roma advances as Inter crashes out

The fifth matchday of the Europa League group stage is over, and although some have qualified for the knockout rounds, others find themselves in a quandary, or simply out of contention.

Inter Milan was disastrously dumped from the tournament by Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Manchester United's campaign is back on track after seeing off Feyenoord, and AS Roma sauntered into the next stage following Edin Dzeko's hat trick in a 4-1 defeat of Viktoria Plzen.

Here are the teams to qualify for the last 32 so far:

• APOEL Nicosia
• Olympiacos
• Anderlecht
• Saint-Etienne
• Zenit St. Petersburg
• AS Roma
• Genk
• Athletic Bilbao
• Ajax
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• FC Schalke 04
• FC Krasnodar
• Sparta Prague

This is how the scene is set ahead of the final group bouts on Dec. 8:

Group A

• Qualified: None
• Out: Zorya Luhansk

For Fenerbahce, Manchester United, and Feyenoord, progression into the final 32 is still within reach. If Feyenoord overcomes Fenerbahce by a scoreline better than 1-0, it's assured a spot beyond the group stages. Regardless of results elsewhere, United enters the knockout rounds with a point at Zorya.

Related - Watch: Rooney chips 'keeper to become United's top European scorer

Group B

• Qualified: APOEL Nicosia, Olympiacos
• Out: FC Astana, Young Boys

APOEL Nicosia and Olympiacos are set for an enthralling tussle over which side finishes first. That match in Cyprus will occur at the same time as Young Boys and FC Astana's squabble over which is Group B's worst team.

Related - Watch: APOEL's Efrem smacks unstoppable angled finish vs. Astana

Group C

• Qualified: Anderlecht, Saint-Etienne
• Out: FK Qabala, FSV Mainz 05

Another group where the top two will decide who advances as the best in the quartet in the last matchday. Qabala, meanwhile, will continue its so-far fruitless quest to get at least a point on the board at Mainz.

Related - Watch: Anderlecht's Tielemans opens scoring with slick curler

Group D

• Qualified: Zenit St. Petersburg
• Out: None

Dundalk is at risk of ending its fairytale in a tough trip to Maccabi Tel Aviv next time out. The Irish side has four points like its host that evening, while AZ Alkmaar is a point better off and positioned second. Zenit is home and dry after five wins in five outings.

Group E

• Qualified: AS Roma
• Out: Viktoria Plzen

Astra Giurgiu may be two points better off than third-placed Austria Wien, but its last-day visit from Roma could open the door for the Viennese outfit.

Related: Dzeko hat trick lifts Roma into Round of 32

Group F

• Qualified: Genk, Athletic Bilbao
• Out: Sassuolo, Rapid Wien

Leon Bailey-inspired Genk and Athletic Bilbao are through, but will be looking for three points in their respective away tilts at Rapid Wien and Sassuolo to claim top spot.

Related - Watch: Bilbao's Balenziaga strikes with slapstick own goal

Group G

• Qualified: Ajax
• Out: Panathinaikos

Ajax has only dropped points in a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo in October and has secured first place. Celta Vigo has six points and travels to Panathinaikos on the final matchday, while Standard Liege, which has the same tally, welcomes Ajax to Sclessin.

Group H

• Qualified: Shakhtar Donetsk
• Out: Konyaspor

Shakhtar Donetsk has romped to the top with five straight wins. Sporting Braga hosts the leader, and Gent travels to Turkish minnow Konyaspor to decide who progresses in the runner-up position.

Related - Watch: Gent's Coulibaly beats Braga 'keeper with acrobatic effort

Group I

• Qualified: FC Schalke 04, FC Krasnodar
• Out: OGC Nice, Red Bull Salzburg

Group I is done and dusted already, with Schalke taking top spot and FC Krasnodar finishing unexpectedly ahead of Red Bull Salzburg and Ligue 1 high-flier Nice.

Group J

• Qualified: None
• Out: None

Each outfit in Group J still has a chance of progression, but Fiorentina has the greatest opportunity with 10 points to its name. Qarabag and PAOK Thessaloniki have seven points, while Slovan Liberec has four.

Group K

• Qualified: Sparta Prague
• Out: Inter Milan

Inter Milan will finish shamefully below Sparta Prague, Southampton, and Hapoel Beer-Sheva in Group K after losing to the latter by a 3-2 scoreline. The Israeli upstart requires a scoring draw or win at Southampton in the final matchday to beat it to second spot.

Related: 10-man Inter bounces out of Europa League after meltdown in Israel

Group L

• Qualified: None
• Out: None

The quartet are finely poised ahead of the final sparring on Dec. 8, with Osmanlispor in first on seven points and Villarreal, FC Zurich, and Steaua Bucharest all on six points.