LONDON: The likes of Qarabag, Slovan Liberec and Lech Poznan could be celebrating surprise berths in the Europa League last 32 on Thursday as the group stage comes to a close.

Many big names such as Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Napoli and Villarreal are already through to the knockout stages but who finishes top is still up for grabs in some groups while Fiorentina, Ajax and Augsburg still have lots to do to even qualify.

Most neutrals would love to see an underdog get through and Azerbaijan’s Qarabag have half a chance in what looked like an impossible Group ‘J’.

Qarabag are bottom on four points but if they pull off a win in Anderlecht and AS Monaco fail to beat already-qualified Tottenham Hotspur, progression is theirs.

“We have a chance of qualifying, but, frankly, it is only a slim one,” said Qarabag coach Gurban Gurbanov. “It will be very difficult — we don’t have enough experience at this level.”

Ligue 1 side Monaco cannot control their own destiny and need a win at Spurs to overtake second-placed Anderlecht who have a one-point advantage.

Czech Cup holders Slovan Liberec know they must beat former finalists Olympique Marseille at home to join Portuguese side Braga as the two qualified clubs from Group ‘F’.

The Velodrome side can still pinch top spot in the group if they win in the Czech Republic and Braga lose to already eliminated Groningen but a draw will also take Michel’s side through.

Liberec coach Jindrich Trpisovsky, whose side go into the match just two points behind Marseille in third, put matters into perspective after the team’s troubles last season.

“After last season, when Slovan avoided relegation only towards the end of the campaign, a game against Marseille with a chance to qualify for the knockout stages feels like science fiction.”

Poland’s Poznan and Belenenses from Portugal have a chance of overhauling Fiorentina in Group ‘I’.

The Serie A club have seven points, with both Belenenses and Lech Poznan both sitting on five and a loss against Belenenses will see Fiorentina eliminated.

Poznan need to beat the already-qualified FC Basel and a Belenenses win over Fiorentina to advance.

Group ‘A’ is still in the balance as Istanbul side Fenerbahce can both be knocked out or top the group when they take on eliminated Scottish club Celtic in Turkey. Former European champions Ajax must beat qualified Norwegian club Molde and hope Fenerbahce lose if they want to snatch the second spot in the pool.

Fenerbahge midfielder Mehmet Topal explained the importance of the occasion.

“The Celtic game is one of the most important of the season for us,” he told Uefa.com. “There’s a chance we could top the group if we beat them.”

Molde come into matchday six with 10 points and are safely into the knockout stages while Fenerbahce are on eight, Ajax six and Celtic two.

Ajax defender Mitchell Dijks is confident the club can do the business over Molde but knows their fate is out of their hands.

“Fenerbahce must of course lose, but that’s football,” Dijks told AmsterdamFM. “It may still be. I think we’ll get the three points.”

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2015