The UEFA Europa League served up an entertaining night of football on Thursday, as AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen recorded emphatic 4–0 away victories, while Benfica produced a dominant attacking display to defeat Celtic 4–1. Meanwhile, several other sides battled for crucial points in closely contested encounters, with Lyon and Beşiktaş emerging victorious in five-goal thrillers.
AC Milan made a strong statement on the road by dismantling Red Bull Salzburg 4–0, demonstrating their attacking quality and defensive discipline. Similarly, Bayer Leverkusen matched Milan’s achievement by sweeping aside Lech Poznań with four unanswered goals. In Lisbon, Benfica also impressed as they overwhelmed Celtic 4–1, capping off a productive night for the winning sides.
Elsewhere, Olympique Lyonnais edged Crystal Palace 3–2 in a thrilling encounter, while Beşiktaş secured an equally dramatic 3–2 victory against TSG Hoffenheim in Germany. In contrast, AFC Bournemouth enjoyed a more comfortable evening, defeating Sturm Graz 3–0 at home to claim a convincing victory.
Meanwhile, Juventus collected three valuable points in Spain after overcoming Celta de Vigo 2–1. Olympiacos also impressed away from home, defeating Marseille 1–0 at the Stade Vélodrome. Similarly, Omonia secured a commanding 3–0 victory over NK Celje, while Sunderland battled past SCU Torreense 2–1 in Portugal. In Poland, Jagiellonia Białystok took advantage of home support to beat Ararat-Armenia 3–1.
However, not every victory came comfortably, as several teams had to work hard to secure maximum points. AZ Alkmaar edged Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2–1, while Ferencvárosi TC recorded an identical victory over Viktoria Plzeň. Likewise, Stade Rennais defeated OFI 2–1 to secure a narrow home win. In another closely fought contest, GNK Dinamo Zagreb held firm to beat RSC Anderlecht 1–0.
On the other hand, three matches ended in draws as the teams proved evenly matched. Royale Union Saint-Gilloise shared the points with Real Sociedad following a 1–1 stalemate in Belgium, while Sparta Prague and Lillestrøm also settled for a point apiece. Similarly, NEC Nijmegen and Levski Sofia played out a 1–1 draw.
Overall, the 18 matches produced 52 goals, averaging approximately 2.9 goals per game. While AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen recorded the biggest victories of the night, Benfica also stood out with an impressive three-goal winning margin. With emphatic wins, dramatic finishes and hard-fought draws shaping the evening’s action, Thursday’s fixtures delivered plenty of excitement for European football fans.
