Thursday’s 18 matches produced a total of 56 goals, an average of 3.11 per game. Milan, Leverkusen and Benfica recorded emphatic wins, while Lyon’s entertaining encounter with Crystal Palace provided one of the night’s most dramatic contests. Olympiacos and Omonia Nicosia also made their mark, delivering impressive results for clubs from outside Europe’s major leagues.
Beşiktaş outclass Hoffenheim, Leverkusen run riot in Poznań
Hoffenheim’s Europa League campaign is rapidly turning into a disappointment. After opening with a 2-0 defeat away to OFI Crete, the side coached by Austrian Christian Ilzer went down 3-2 at home to Beşiktaş.
Following a goalless first half, Michael Murillo put the visitors ahead in the 60th minute. Fisnik Asllani equalised eight minutes later, but Hyeongyu Oh then struck twice in quick succession. The South Korean scored in the 72nd and 79th minutes before Koki Machida pulled one back shortly before full-time to make it 3-2.
Perhaps most concerning for Hoffenheim was the manner in which they were outplayed. Although the German side enjoyed 54 per cent possession, Beşiktaş created by far the better chances. The visitors led the expected goals count 3.33 to 1.15 and registered 19 shots to Hoffenheim’s 13. With two defeats from two games, Ilzer’s team are already under pressure, particularly with a meeting against Lyon coming up next.
Leverkusen swept aside Lech Poznań 4-0 away from home, recording their second victory without conceding a goal. Patrik Schick converted two penalties, while Malik Tillman and Ibrahim Maza added the other goals.
The statistics underline just how one-sided the contest was. Leverkusen registered 22 attempts and an extraordinarily high expected goals figure of 5.16, compared with just 0.50 for Lech Poznań. There was also an unusual interruption when the pitch sprinklers unexpectedly switched on during the match.
Cissé makes history as Juventus snatch victory in Vigo
Italy’s representatives also provided plenty of talking points. Juventus claimed a 2-1 away victory over Celta Vigo, needing a stoppage-time goal to secure all three points. Randal Kolo Muani struck the winner, giving the Turin club their second victory in as many matches.
Following their emphatic 5-0 opening win against NEC Nijmegen, Juventus have six points and a goal difference of +6, having scored seven times and conceded just once.
AC Milan enjoyed an even more convincing result. The Rossoneri thrashed Salzburg 4-0 away from home, with Alphadjo Cissé stealing the headlines thanks to a superb hat-trick. The 19-year-old became the youngest Italian to score three goals in a European club competition match. It was also Milan’s first hat-trick in European competition since Filippo Inzaghi achieved the feat in 2002. For Salzburg, the result brought an end to a run of 15 competitive matches without defeat under Danny Röhl.
Sturm Graz also suffered a heavy defeat against strong opposition. The Austrian side lost 3-0 away to AFC Bournemouth, who consequently made it two wins from two in the Europa League. We have already taken a closer look at both Austrian matches in a separate article.
Celtic denied by the woodwork, Lyon hold off Palace
Benfica delivered one of the most convincing performances of the evening with a 4-1 home victory over Celtic. Jhon Durán opened the scoring in the fifth minute with an audacious Panenka penalty. Alexander Bah doubled the advantage before Durán completed his brace in the 36th minute.
Celtic pulled a goal back through Camilo Durán after the break, only for Vangelis Pavlidis to add Benfica’s fourth shortly before full-time. The Scottish side had opportunities to make the scoreline more respectable, striking the woodwork on three separate occasions.
Nevertheless, Benfica were clearly the stronger team. The Portuguese side outshot Celtic 26-14 and produced an expected goals figure of 3.18 compared with their opponents’ 1.36, reflecting the superior quality of their chances. Celtic, meanwhile, are already under considerable pressure after two defeats and eight goals conceded.
One of the night’s most entertaining matches unfolded between Lyon and Crystal Palace. The French side took a 2-0 lead into half-time through goals from Corentin Tolisso and Ernest Nuamah. Yeremy Pino gave Palace hope shortly after the restart, but Pavel Šulc restored Lyon’s two-goal advantage. Daichi Kamada made it 3-2 in the 81st minute to set up a tense finale.
Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif preserved the victory with an excellent late save from Chris Richards. The French club held on to win 3-2 and maintained their perfect start to the competition. Expected goals figures of 2.05 to 1.55 reflected the relatively balanced nature of the contest.
Marseille frustrated by Olympiacos as Sunderland and Omonia stay perfect
Olympiacos produced one of the biggest surprises of the round, winning 1-0 away to Marseille and condemning the French club to a second consecutive defeat. Santiago Hezze scored the decisive goal in the 42nd minute.
Marseille enjoyed more possession but offered little attacking threat. Their 11 attempts generated an expected goals figure of just 0.89. Olympiacos managed even less, recording only 0.55 xG, but Hezze’s header from a corner proved enough to secure victory and maintain their perfect six-point record.
Sunderland also claimed a dramatic victory. The English side fell behind away to Portuguese second-tier club Torreense after centre-back Volnei Feltes scored with a spectacular long-range effort. Jules Ahoka equalised before Noah Sadiki struck a half-volley in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 comeback win. Sunderland also have six points from their opening two matches.
Omonia Nicosia have made an equally impressive start. The Cypriot club followed their opening 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo with a commanding 3-0 away win at Celje. They consequently have six points and a flawless defensive record, having scored four goals without conceding.
Elsewhere, Dinamo Zagreb beat Anderlecht 1-0, Ferencváros defeated Viktoria Plzeň 2-1 and Rennes overcame OFI Crete by the same scoreline. Jagiellonia Białystok recorded a 3-1 victory against Ararat-Armenia, while AZ Alkmaar edged Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2-1. Sparta Prague against Lillestrøm, Union Saint-Gilloise against Real Sociedad and NEC Nijmegen against Levski Sofia all finished 1-1.
After two rounds, Juventus lead the league-phase standings ahead of Leverkusen thanks only to having scored more goals. Ten teams have collected the maximum six points, including Beşiktaş, Bournemouth and Olympiacos. Hoffenheim, Marseille and Celtic, by contrast, are still waiting for their first point.
