Current Europa League holders Sevilla suffered their first defeat in the competition since lifting the trophy last May, falling 2-0 away at Feyenoord to relinquish top spot in Group G.
Second-half goals from Jens Toornstra and Karim El Ahmadi gave the Eredivisie outfit all three points at De Kuip, while Rijeka saw off Standard Liege 2-0 in the group's other game to keep their qualification hopes alive at the expense of their opponents.
In another top-two clash, this time in Group K, Fiorentina maintained their unbeaten run in a 2-0 win at Guingamp to seal their progression to the last 32, but Dinamo Minsk's slim hopes were ended in a 2-0 reverse at PAOK.
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Group L saw Legia Warsaw's winning start come to an end in their meeting with Lokeren, and Trabzonspor got the better of Metalist Kharkiv on home turf to keep hold of second place.
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The Group J meeting between top of the table Dynamo Kiev and winless Rio Ave went the way of the form books, with the former claiming a 2-0 win.
Elsewhere Aalborg BK beat Steaua Bucuresti courtesy of Thomas Enevoldsen's strike 15 minutes from time to climb within one point of their opponents.
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One of the standout fixtures of the night in Group I between Sparta Prague and Napoli, who went into this evening's match locked on points, ended in a goalless draw.
Young Boys recorded a 2-0 triumph at winless Slovan Bratislava, meanwhile, to ensure that they can still progress heading into the final round of fixtures.
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Finally, Everton secured top spot in Group H by beating Wolfsburg 2-0 at the Volkswagen Arena thanks to strikes in either half from Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas, which, combined with Lille's 1-1 draw at Krasnador, was enough for the Toffees to look forward to European football post-Christmas.
