What we learned from Thursday’s European matches

Football writer Adrian Clarke assesses Thursday’s UEFA Europa League and Conference League matches for Premier League clubs.

Amorim serves up entertaining and educational Old Trafford debut

Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt

Ruben Amorim’s first victory as Manchester United’s head coach was thrilling and thought-provoking in equal measure.

From a tactical perspective the 39-year-old experimented with several fresh ideas.

His starting line-up featured Antony as right wing-back, Bruno Fernandes in central midfield and Mason Mount, making his first start since August, operated as one of two No 10s in his 3-4-2-1. Fit-again Tyrell Malacia also returned to action as United’s left wing-back, 550 days after his last appearance.

The pros and cons of Amorim’s strategic shake-up were also laid bare in a frenetic opening 50 minutes that saw all five goals scored.

Within 48 seconds, Amorim’s demand for greater off-the-ball intensity was instantly rewarded. Fired-up striker Rasmus Hojlund pressed the opposition goalkeeper and forced an error which allowed Alejandro Garnacho to tap the ball into an empty net.

But by the midway point of the half United trailed 2-1, and Amorim’s aggressive alterations were undeniably a contributory factor.

Ahead of Hakon Evjen’s equaliser, Man Utd’s right-sided centre-back Noussair Mazraoui pushed forward to press man-to-man in midfield, leaving a gap behind him that needed to be covered by Manuel Ugarte.

With United’s midfield emptied, Bodo/Glimt pulled the ball back to the edge of the box, where Bruno Fernandes was caught napping in an unfamiliar central midfield role, failing to track the scorer.

In the build-up to the visitors’ second goal, Lisandro Martinez’s eagerness to please his new head coach was also punished. The left-sided centre-back sprinted 30 yards to press an opponent out wide, but an early pass over the top bypassed him to expose Malacia in a 1v1.

The Dutchman was brushed aside by Philip Zinckernagel, and in scoring that goal Bodo/Glimt became just the second visiting team to net twice inside 23 minutes in a major European tie at Old Trafford.

Coincidentally, Amorim was in SC Braga’s side that night in October 2012, when the Portuguese side took an early 2-0 lead against United.

But from the moment Bodo/Glimt went ahead, Amorim’s tactical dynamism was the springboard for a pleasing comeback victory.

Mazraoui stepped forward again to win a challenge 30 yards from goal. From there he crossed for Hojlund, who cushioned the ball beautifully with his left foot before calmly volleying home with his right to equalise on the stroke of half-time.

Hojlund's first goal in Bodo/Glimt

Diogo Dalot replaced Malacia at the break, and for the opening 15 minutes of the second half he performed a fascinating new role.

Out of possession Dalot appeared to play as a left-back in a four-man rearguard, but as soon as United had the ball he moved into the left No 10 role in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1, with Garnacho pulling out wide instead.

That brief switch enlivened the side, and during this spell the hosts went in front.

The impressive Mount flicked the ball wide for Ugarte, who crossed for Hojlund to slide home his second of a satisfying evening.

Man Utd's match stats in Bodo/Glimt

Late on, the sight of Casemiro coming off the bench to play in the back three, and a lively cameo from Marcus Rashford in an unusual right-sided No 10 role, typified an evening when Amorim’s radical new plans came to the fore.

This was a slightly flawed but exciting performance that whets the appetite for things to come.

See: Man Utd report and line-up

Spurs pegged back by Ranieri’s Roma in thriller

Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 AS Roma

Ange Postecoglou’s first ever dugout duel with Claudio Ranieri was a predictably fun encounter that produced 42 shots, eight big chances and over six xG.

Tottenham Hotspur are accustomed to controlling Europa League home matches with a degree of ease, winning seven in a row without conceding.

Yet this was a completely different experience for them, with Roma’s bold 3-4-3 system causing them numerous problems throughout.

Mats Hummels, making his first start for the Italian giants in the competition, conceded an early penalty, clumsily fouling Pape Sarr, who had nipped in front of him from a Pedro Porro cutback.

Son Heung-min’s calm finish made it five successful spot-kicks from five at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

On 20 minutes Roma were level when Evan Ndicka headed home a pinpoint Paulo Dybala wide free-kick – and from then on, the pattern was set for an open contest crammed with chances at both ends.

Dejan Kulusevski played a big part in putting Spurs back in front with a typically barnstorming run down the left, cutting the ball back for Brennan Johnson to convert expertly on the run.

If Spurs had edged the first 45 minutes, the second half belonged to Roma, who seized control with 60 per cent of possession after half-time.

The hosts always carried a threat on the counter-attack, but Ranieri’s men over-ran them at times, creating regular overloads, especially in the wide areas.

A series of close shaves kept Postecoglou’s men in front, and 10 minutes from time Dominic Solanke almost made it 3-1 with a terrific header that struck the bar from Archie Gray’s left-wing cross.

In stoppage time a sensational Fraser Forster save from Gianluca Mancini’s close-range volley appeared to have earned Spurs all three points, but from the resulting corner Hummels slotted home to claim a deserved leveller.

Spurs’ failure to win a group-stage home match in this competition for the first time since 2014 has seen them drop out of the top eight on goal difference, with three matches left to play.

See: Spurs’ report and line-up

Sancho shines as Chelsea continue perfect start

Heidenheim 0-2 Chelsea

Jadon Sancho played a starring role to keep Chelsea top of the UEFA Conference League table, with four wins from four.

This was Chelsea’s toughest test so far in the competition, with the Bundesliga side forcing goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen into 11 saves on the night. One outstanding first-half double stop showcased the 22-year-old’s sharp reflexes.

Teenager Marc Guiu was a constant livewire, producing five shots before half-time, but it was the more experienced Christopher Nkunku who broke the deadlock on 51 minutes. A turnover down the right released Sancho, who crossed superbly for the Frenchman to register his 11th goal of the season.

Nkunku is the first Chelsea player to score in each of his first four European appearances for the club, netting seven in total.

Enzo Maresca’s side came under a fair amount of pressure, but their clever use of the offside trap from crosses consistently frustrated the Germans.

On 86 minutes Mykhailo Mudryk sealed the win with a fabulous strike into the top corner. He was set up after Sancho’s brilliant one-two with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall opened up the Heidenheim defence.

A late sending-off for Cesare Casadei, dismissed for two yellow cards, was disappointing but Chelsea are imperiously marching towards the last 16.

See: Chelsea report and line-up