???? Amad leads United to win over PAOK; Ajax hammer Maccabi Tel-Aviev

The Europa League returned tonight with several exciting clashes taking place across the continent.

Amad Diallo hit a brilliant double to help Manchester United finally get their first Europa League win of the season, and continue Ruud van Nistelrooy’s unbeaten run in interim charge.

PAOK almost took the lead inside five minutes, a shot deflecting off Casemiro and almost going past André Onana.

United picked things up soon after, and probably should have had a penalty for a foul on Amad that VAR waved away.

On the half hour, United were inches from scoring but ex-Chelsea defender Baba Rahman did brilliantly to block Alejandro Garnacho’s cross when Diallo was about to finish.

PAOK were more than a match for United in the first half, and Onana had to be sharp to turn over Mady Camara’s half volley as Old Trafford grew restless.

United came out much stronger in the second half, and took the lead with a great header from Amad, who guided Fernandes’ cross into the far post.

With their tails up, they pushed for a second with Amad again coming close, before van Nistelrooy rolled on the subs, with Marcus Rashford amongst them.

Tarik Tissoudali missed a glorious chance to level things up for PAOK just past the hour, but hit straight at Onana from less than 10 yards out.

Amad, who was United’s best player all night, got his second with 13 minutes left with a fantastic goal. He closed down a defender, won the ball, held onto it and curled home with the aid of a slight deflection.

Rashford almost got a third in added time, but it mattered little, as United closed out for a crucial three points ahead of Ruben Amorim’s arrival.

Scorers: Traoré 14’, Taylor 27’, Godts 39’, Brobbey 61’, Fitz-Jim 69’

Ajax continued their fine Europa League form with an utterly dominant 5-0 win against Maccabi Tel Aviev at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

The Dutch giants needed just 14 minutes to take the lead through Bertrand Traoré, but it was all about the work of Brian Brobbey. The big striker got past his man, and tapped the ball across the box for the winger to finish from close range.

Maccabi thought they had equalised just five minutes later but Elad Madmon’s goal was disallowed.

Brobbey played a hand in Ajax’s second just before the half hour, flicking the ball into the path of Kenneth Taylor to finish off a lovely move.

It was three six minutes before half time, Mika Godts getting in on the act with a fine finish. The wide man cut inside before curling home.

Brobbey got the goal his all-round play deserved just after the hour mark, smashing in an indirect free kick. It was his first of the season, which the venom in the strike suggested.

Kian Fitz-Jim got the fifth, taking down a lovely ball from substitute Steven Berguis and finishing smartly from inside the box to round off a perfect night for Francesco Farioli’s side.

Scorers: Akgün 6′, Osimhen 32′, 39′; Lankshear 19′, Solanke 69′

Victor Osimhen was at his brilliant best, scoring twice to help Galatasary defeat Tottenham 3-2 at the RAMs stadium, and go top of the Europa League table.

It was Yunus Akgün, though, who gave Gala the lead after just six minutes with a simply stunning strike. The former Leicester loanee cracked a half volley past Fraser Forster after a free kick came his way on the edge of the box.

Spurs equalised 13 minutes later, and it came from their young striker Will Lankshear, who picked a great time to score his first goal for the club. Archie Gray played a fine ball into Brennan Johnson, who sidefooted it across the box for the 19-year-old to finish.

The Turkish champions thought they had retaken the lead on the half hour, but Victor Osimhen was offside when he put the ball in the net. A minute later, the Nigerian striker did score though, finishing well after Spurs lost the ball in midfield.

The on-loan Napoli man got another six minutes before half time, stylishly tapping home a great Dries Mertens cross that the Spurs defence just did not deal with.

Spurs’ night went from bad to worse on the hour mark, when Lankshear was dismissed for a second yellow. It summed up their frustration as Gala dominated.

Dominic Solanke came off the bench to give his side a lifeline in the 69th minute, finishing well from Pedro Porro’s cross.

Dejan Kulusevski had a chance to grab a point for Spurs late on but they fell to their first European loss of the season against a deserving Gala outfit.

Scorers: McAllister 77′; Mancini 62′

The pressure on Ivan Jurić only grew as his side were held to a 1-1 draw against Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels.

After a plodding first hour, Roma eventually took the lead in the 62nd minute through Gianluca Mancini, who beat the Union keeper to head home Lorenzo Pellegrini’s cross.

Union equalised with 13 minutes left, Kevin Mac Allister scoring with his own header from a corner, and were worthy of their point.

Scorers: El Kaabi 56′; Dessers 64′

Rangers came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Europa Conference League champions Olympiacos in Athens.

Afer a relatively even first half, Olympiacos took the lead 11 minutes after the break throhgh Ayoub El Kaabi.

The Moroccan striker got the ball inside the box and had the time to turn and volley past Jack Butland.

Rangers drew level just eight minutes later, Cyrille Dessers showing brilliant feet before great composure to fire home.

Phillippe Clement’s side could have taken all three points, but will likely be happy with a good away point.

???? OLI SCARFF – AFP or licensors