The Europa League Round of 16 kicked off on Thursday with the first legs, with AC Milan and Qarabag qualifying after their decisive victories.

Players of the Milan team.Photo: A Erbeituo¡¤lingeliya / Xinhua News / Profimedia

Milan – Rennes 3-0 / Feyenoord – Roma 1-1, Europa League

Roma drew 1:1 at Feyenoord, and qualification will be decided at Olimpico.

The Dutch opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time through Paixão, but Daniele De Rossi’s side equalized in the 67th minute through Lukaku, in a match refereed by Romanian Radu Petrescu.

Instead, Milan took a big step up to eighth, after an emphatic victory over the French in Rennes.

A brace from Loftus-Cheek and a goal from Rafa Leao brought peace to Stefano Pioli’s side for the second leg.

The return games will take place in a week.

Results of the day in the Europa League

Feyenoord – Roma 1-1

Galatasaray – Sparta Prague 3-2

Shakhtar Donetsk – Marseille 2-2

Young Boys – Sporting 1-3

Milan – Rennes 3-0

Benfica – Toulouse 2-1

Braga – Karabakh 2-4

Lens – Freiburg 0-0