The first leg of the Europa League knockout phase play-offs saw Porto and Roma play out a 1-1 draw, while Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Anderlecht.
Porto vs. Roma Ends in Stalemate
Roma, last season’s Europa League runners-up, took the lead in Portugal through Zeki Celik in first-half stoppage time. However, Porto equalized when Francisco Moura’s deflected strike found the net, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of next week’s return leg in Italy. Roma played the final 18 minutes with ten men after Bryan Cristante received a second yellow card, leading to frustration from coach Claudio Ranieri.
Fenerbahce in Full Control
In Turkey, former Premier League stars Dusan Tadic and Edin Dzeko scored in the first half for Fenerbahce before Youssef En-Nesyri sealed a 3-0 win over Anderlecht. Mourinho, who has previously won the Europa League with Porto (2003) and Manchester United (2017), expressed satisfaction but emphasized the need to finish the job in the second leg.
Other Europa League Results
Real Sociedad claimed a 2-1 away win over Midtjylland, with goals from Brais Mendez and Takefusa Kubo. The winners of this tie will face either Manchester United or Tottenham in the last 16.
Ajax took control of their play-off with a 2-0 victory against Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels. Christian Rasmussen opened the scoring before 16-year-old Jorthy Mokio struck from 20 yards.
Elsewhere, Mohammad Abu Fani netted the only goal as Ferencvaros defeated Viktoria Plzen 1-0 in Budapest, while AZ Alkmaar dismantled Galatasaray 4-1, with goals from Sven Mijnans, Troy Parrott, Jordy Clasie, and David Moller Wolfe. Galatasaray’s Roland Sallai equalized at one point, but Kaan Ayhan’s red card left them struggling.
Ricky Van Wolfswinkel converted a last-minute penalty to hand Twente a 2-1 win over Bodo/Glimt, while Romania’s FCSB secured a similar 2-1 victory away to PAOK.
Conference League Action: Shamrock Rovers Shine in Norway
In the UEFA Conference League, Irish club Shamrock Rovers clinched a 1-0 win away to Molde, thanks to a teenage goal-scoring hero.
Real Betis, boosted by Antony’s second goal in three games since joining on loan from Manchester United, stormed to a 3-0 victory over Gent.
Other notable results saw Heidenheim edge Copenhagen 2-1, while Bosnia’s Borac Banja Luka snatched a 1-0 win against Olimpija Ljubljana.
An all-Cypriot clash ended in a 1-1 draw between Omonia Nicosia and Pafos, whereas Vikingur Reykjavik stunned Panathinaikos 2-1, despite the Greek side scoring a late penalty.
Celje of Slovenia played out a 2-2 draw with APOEL Nicosia, while Jagiellonia Bialystok’s captain Jesus Imaz netted twice in a 3-1 victory over Serbia’s TSC Backa Topola.
With several ties finely poised, the return legs promise high drama as teams battle for a place in the last 16.
