In the latest round of European fixtures, football journalist Adrian Clarke reflects on the performances of Premier League teams in the UEFA Europa League and Conference League.
It had been a frustrating 379 days since Manchester United last basked in the glory of a European victory, so there was palpable relief at Old Trafford as they managed to overcome Greek champions PAOK.
The first half was a lacklustre affair, with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men managing only a solitary shot on target. However, Amad stood out as United’s most compelling player, eager to catch the eye of incoming coach Ruben Amorim.
The 22-year-old winger upped his game in the second half, eventually marking the occasion with his first goal haul for the club. Amad broke the deadlock shortly after the interval, capitalising on a brilliantly driven cross from Bruno Fernandes, expertly guiding a delicate header from a tight angle past the goalkeeper.
This marked the sixth goal created by Fernandes this season, and with that assist, he recorded his 16th in the UEFA Europa League, tying him for the highest number ever. Since his debut in European competitions with Sporting Lisbon back in September 2017, Fernandes has now amassed 26 assists, more than any other player.
Read more:
Coventry City Search for New Manager: Matt Bloomfield the Leading Contender
However, the evening belonged to Amad, who delivered a scintillating second goal in the 77th minute that truly electrified the Theatre of Dreams. Displaying determination, he dispossessed PAOK’s Baba 40 yards from goal, deftly maneuvering past a couple of challenges before curling a stunning left-footed strike into the far corner from the edge of the area.
This inspired performance helped United rise to 15th in the league phase table and brought an end to their run of three consecutive draws in the Europa League. Amorim, due to join the squad post-international break, now has a solid foundation to build on as he aims to steer the club into the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur faced a daunting task against a formidable Galatasaray side in one of Europe’s most challenging environments, ultimately succumbing to a 3-2 defeat, marking their first loss in the league phase.
Read more:
Gyokeres Drives PSG and Madrid Crazy
For the opening 65 minutes, Spurs appeared outmatched, as Galatasaray sliced through their vulnerable defence with ease, totaling a staggering 25 shots during that period—eventually rising to 28 by the sound of the final whistle, the most Spurs have faced under Postecoglou’s management. Remarkably, no English team had to fend off this many shots in a Europa League group stage match since Everton endured 39 attempts from Wolfsburg a decade ago.
The scoring was ignited by left winger Yunus Akgun, who netted a spectacular 22-yard volley just six minutes in. This was equalised 12 minutes later, however, as 19-year-old Will Lankshear etched his name into Spurs’ history as the club’s youngest European goalscorer since Harry Kane back in the 2011/12 season.
Read more:
Sporting: Rúben Amorim Seeks to Equal Record in Grand Farewell
Lankshear went on to score again before the interval, showcasing movement that proved too lively for central defenders to cope with. Unfortunately for Spurs, they stumbled through the match, handing possession away cheaply from their own half. Despite their struggles, credit goes to Galatasaray for the relentless intensity they brought to the pitch.
Things took a turn for the worse when Lankshear received a second yellow card, leaving Spurs to play with ten men on the hour mark. A late effort from Dominic Solanke, who flicked in a cutback from Pedro Porro, did bring some brief hope, but it was too little, too late.
This represented a tough night for Postecoglou and his squad, filled with lessons learned.
Lastly, Chelsea etched their name into the history books with a stunning 8-0 victory against Armenian champions Noah in the UEFA Conference League, marking the largest win in the competition’s history.
Fielding a significantly altered squad from their recent draw with Manchester United, Chelsea was expected to dominate, although Noah did muster a few shots, including seven on target. However, they were consistently blown away by Chelsea’s rapid attacking prowess.
Among the standout performers was Marc Guiu, an 18-year-old talent acquired from Barcelona, who opened the scoring with a confident finish after intercepting a pass. Mykhailo Mudryk would later add a highlight-reel goal into the top corner, followed by Felix, who netted his second to secure a 6-0 lead at the break.
While Noah managed to stem the tide for stretches in the second half, two additional goals from Christopher Nkunku stamped Chelsea’s dominance and secured their place in UEFA Conference League lore.
With an impressive start that has seen them score 16 goals in just three matches, Chelsea are looking formidable contenders for the title, standing head and shoulders above the competition.
