"Not now again," Fredrik Ljungberg probably thought when Standard Liege's Samuel Bastien put 1-0 at home against Arsenal just at the start of the second half.

The backward goal in the Europa League meeting meant that the newly-appointed Swedish manager in all of his four matches at the post was forced to see the opposing team take the lead.

And the uphill would be even steeper.

Saka's point-saver

As with the 1-0 goal, it was a control through the Arsenal defense that allowed the Belgian club to expand to 2-0 in the 69th minute. Selim Amallah twisted the ball from Joseph Willock into the penalty area and pushed the ball through Arsenal back Konstantinos Mavropano's outstretched hand.

But the away team came again - thanks to 18-year-old talent Bukayo Saka.

The Englishman first sent a perfect post to Alexandre Lacazette who nodded the lead in the 78th minute. And when only three minutes later Saka placed the ball in net after a wall play with Gabriel Martinelli, it was acknowledged.

The match ended 2–2 - a result that means Arsenal are on to the 16th semi-final as the group before the second Eintracht Frankfurt.

Several Swedes continue

However, Fredrik Ljungberg is far from being the only Swedish to reach the playoffs in the Europa League.

In addition to all Swedish Malmö FF, FC Copenhagen - with Karl-Johan Johnsson, Sotirios Papagiannopoulos and Pierre Bengtsson in the team - is also second in the group behind the Skånelaget.

Linus Hallenius can also look forward to further play in the tournament next year. The former Sundsvall player, with his Apoel Nicosia, is ahead after a 1-0 victory against group Sevilla. However, the Swede sat on the bench the whole match.

One Swedish club that, on the other hand, has finished in the Europa League is Krasnodar. With Marcus Berg from the start of the attack and Kristoffer Olsson on the bench the entire match, there was a clear 0–3 loss away against Spanish successor Getafe. Krasnodar finished third in the group, behind just Getafe in second place and Basel as one.