EUROPA LEAGUE: Barca's first half hammering of Napoli, Rangers eliminate clumsy Dortmund

Barcelona sealed qualification into the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League with a dominant 4-2 win over Napoli. Xavi’s side are now in their best form of the season, going unbeaten in six games, and winning four in that run.

Barcelona came flying out the traps and dominated from the beginning, opening the scoring in the ninth minute. A Napoli corner was quickly dealt with, and Barça broke on the counter-attack with the frightening pace of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Adama Traoré and Jordi Alba galloping up the pitch. Two quick goals from Alba and Frenkie de Jong sent Barca flying. The Dutchman's goal was a thing of beauty - he curled in an exquisite effort from outside the box.

Lorenzo Insigne penalty gave hope to the home team and sent a thunderous roar around the Diego Maradona Stadium. However, Gerard Piqué duly added a third for the Catalan visitors hust before the halftime break. Xavi’s side controlled the game in the second period also, keeping possession and dictating the pace of the game. Barça’s control of possession seemed to drain the energy of the Napoli players, and this proved to be the case after a brilliant Barcelona move with a total of 22 passes was finished off by Aubameyang, as he smashed the ball into the top corner to seal their qualification into the last 16.

Napoli were gifted a late goal by a defensive error that allowed Matteo Politano to roll the ball into the net.

In Glasgow, a Rangers rhapsody. Back in 2013, Rangers were competing in the fourth tier of Scottish football at the same time Borussia Dortmund were playing in the Champions League final. Fast forward nine years and the ‘Gers’ eliminated Erling Haaland-less Dortmund from the Europa League 6-4 on aggregate in a famous night at a raucous Ibrox.

Man of the match, home team's James Tavernier, scored two goals and stamped Borussia's exit ticket.

It needs to be said that Dortmund's defenders helped the Scottish team a lot with their below-par performance.

Goalless stalemate in Sevilla sent Betis further and left Zenit St.Petersburg out of the tournament. Portuguese side Braga were better after a penalty session in which Sheriff players could not hold their composure.

The 1/8 finals draw will be held tomorrow at 2 PM EAT in Nyon, Switzerland.

UEFA Europa League - Playoff round, Second leg

Thursday

Dinamo Zagreb - Sevilla 1-0 (0-0)

/Orsic 65 pen/

Sevilla qualify - 3-2 on aggregate

Lazio - FC Porto 2-2 (1-1)

/Immobile 19, Cataldi 90+5 - Taremi 31 pen, Mateus 68/

Porto qualify - 4-3 on aggregate

Olympiacos - Atalanta 0-3 (0-1)

/Maehle 40, Malinovsky 67, 69/

Atalanta qualify - 5-1 on aggregate

Real Sociedad - RB Leipzig 1-3 (0-1)

/Zubimendi 67 - Orban 39, Silva 59, Forsberg 88 pen/

Leipzig qualify - 5-3 on aggregate

Napoli - Barcelona 2-4 (1-3)

/Insigne 23 pen, Politano 87 - Alba 8, de Jong 13, Pique 45, Aubameyang 59/

Barcelona qualify - on aggregate 5-3

Rangers - Borussia Dortmund 2-2 (1-2)

/Tavernier 22 pen, 57 - Bellingham 31, Malen 42/

Rangers qualify - on aggregate 7-4

Real Betis - Zenit St. Petersburg 0-0

Betis qualify - 3-2 on aggregate

Braga - FC Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 (2-0)

/Medeiros 17, Horta 43/

Braga qualify - 2-2 on aggregate, 3-2 on penalties