PAOK Salonic, a team coached by the Romanian Răzvan Lucescu, was defeated by Galatasaray with a score of 3-1, on Wednesday evening, in Istanbul, in a match of the first stage of the new format of the Europa League football competition.
Răzvan Lucescu, defeated on his debut in the Europa League. Facebook photo
After a first half in which they brilliantly resisted the pressure of the Turks, Lucescu’s team collapsed after the break. Galatasaray opened the scoring with a hilarious own goal by the Ghanaian Abdul Rahman Baba (48), the Greek champion equalized through Giannis Konstantelias (67), but the hosts scored two more until the end, through Yunus Akgun (76) and Mauro Icardi (90 +5). PAOK will face FCSB in the next match, which will debut today, in Bucharest, against the Latvians from RFS (22:00), at the National Arena.
Manchester United, another future opponent of the red-blues in the Europa League, was held in check by FC Twente Enschede, 1-1, the Danish Christian Eriksen scoring for the “red devils” (35), but the visitors equalized through Sam Lammers (68).
Equal between FCSB’s future opponents
The match between FC Midtjylland and Hoffenheim also ended with a draw, both teams going to meet FCSB in the next stages. The Germans equalized in extremis, through Max Moerstedt (90), after Dario Osorio had opened the scoring for the Danish team (42).
The score of the evening was achieved by Lazio, who beat Dinamo Kiev 3-0 away in Hamburg, both teams finishing the match with ten men. Another away victory was achieved by Slavia Prague, 2-0 against Ludogorets Razgrad.
In this European season, the Romanian champions will also meet PAOK Thessaloniki (October 3, away), Glasgow Rangers (October 24, away), FC Midtjylland (November 7, home), Olympiakos Piraeus (November 28, home), Hoffenheim (December 12, away), Qarabag (January 23, away) and Manchester United (January 30, home).
Europa League results
AZ Alkmaar – Elfsborg 3-2
They scored: Ruben van Bommel 44, 50, Troy Parrott 74 – penalty, respectively Timothy Ouma 23, Simon Hedlund 53.
Red card: Sebastian Holmen (Elfsborg, 86).
Bodo/Glimt – FC Porto 3-2
They scored: Kasper Hoegh 15, Jens Hauge 40, 62, respectively Samuel Omorodion 8, Deniz Gul 90.
Red card: Isak Dybvik Maatta (Bodo/Glimt, 51).
Anderlecht Brussels – Ferencvaros Budapest 2-1
They scored: Yari Verschaeren 61, Kasper Dolberg 66 – penalty, respectively Adama Traore 86.
Red card: Nilson Angulo (Anderlecht) 81.
Dynamo Kyiv – Lazio Roma 0-3
They scored: Boulaye Dia 5, 35, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru 34.
Red cards: Maksim Bragaru (Dinamo) 72, Tijjani Noslin (Lazio) 82.
FC Midtjylland – Hoffenheim 1-1
They scored: Dario Osorio 42, respectively Max Moerstedt 90.
Galatasaray Istanbul – PAOK Thessaloniki 3-1
They scored: Abdul Rahman Baba (own goal) 48, Yunus Akgun 76, Mauro Icardi 90+5, respectively Giannis Konstantelias 67.
Ludogorets Razgrad – Slavia Prague 0-2
They scored: Matej Jurasek 38, Mojmir Chytil 65.
Manchester United – FC Twente Enschede 1-1
They scored: Christian Eriksen 35, respectively Sam Lammers 68.
OGC Nice – Real Sociedad 1-1
They scored: Pablo Rosario 45, respectively Ander Barrenetxea 18.
Evann Guessand (Nice) misses a penalty in the min. 54 (Alex Remiro defended).
Today the games scheduled are Fenerbahce – Union St Gilloise (19:45), Malmo FF – Rangers (19:45), Ajax – Beşiktaş (22:00), Eintracht Frankfurt – Viktoria Plzen (22:00), Olympique Lyon – Olympiakos Piraeus (22:00), AS Roma – Athletic Bilbao (22:00), Braga – Maccabi Tel Aviv (22:00), Tottenham Hotspur – Qarabag FK (22:00) and FCSB – RFS (22:00).
