Europa League round-up: Liverpool, Roma and West Ham win
The 2023/24 UEFA Europa League group stage continued on Thursday with some more fascinating encounters.
Liverpool beat Union SG, Roma defeated Servette and West Ham saw off Freiburg in what was another intriguing evening of UEFA Europa League group stage football on Matchday 2.
UEFA.com rounds up the Thursday night action.
Liverpool kept up their winning start to Group E but had to work hard to hold off Union SG.
After Darwin Núñez walked a rebound in only to be flagged offside, Ryan Gravenberch netted when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot was spilled.
Diogo Jota clinched victory but took until stoppage time to ensure the points stayed at Anfield with a fine, low finish.
Key stat: Liverpool have now won their last eight UEFA club competition group stage matches at home and are unbeaten in 10 Europa League group stage fixtures at Anfield.
Freiburg 1-2 West Ham
West Ham withstood a second-half fightback at Freiburg to take charge of Group A.
The Hammers took the lead when Lucas Paquetá soared to power home a downward header from Jarrod Bowen’s cross on eight minutes.
They were made to pay for missed chances when Roland Sallai rifled home a loose ball after a superb double-save from Lukasz Fabiański to level on 49 minutes, but Nayef Aguerd thundered home a James Ward-Prowse corner to win it midway through the second-half.
Key stat: West Ham’s 17 match unbeaten streak (W16, D1) is a new record for an English team in European competition, beating the 16 of Leeds (1967-68), Tottenham (1967-72), Chelsea (2018-19) and Man City (current run 16 matches).
Marseille 2-2 Brighton
Brighton fought back to ensure a share of the points in an entertaining encounter in Marseille.
Pascal Gross and João Pedro’s late penalty wrapped up a strong second-half from the Seagulls, after Chancel Mbemba and Jordan Veretout had struck from similar positions in quick succession midway through the first half.
Roberto De Zerbi’s men poured forward, with Danny Welbeck and Ansu Fati expertly denied by home keeper Pau López before the break.
Gross gave the visitors hope soon after the restart before sub João Pedro coolly levelled from the spot after Tariq Lamptey was fouled by Jonathan Clauss.
Key stat: Marseille have drawn six of their last eight UEFA Europa League group stage matches.
Sporting CP 1-2 Atalanta
Atalanta survived a second-half Sporting CP onslaught to make it two wins from two in Group D.
The Serie A outfit totally dominated the first period, with two defenders in Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri putting them 2-0 up after both finishing off from free-flowing passing moves.
But Sporting improved after the break, and Viktor Gyökeres scored from the penalty spot to offer them hope. Marcus Edwards missed a big chance when put through one-on-one and Geny Catamo hit the post, and in the end Atalanta were able to cling on.
Key stat: Scalvini (19 years and 298 days) and Ruggeri (21y, 86d) have become the two youngest players to score for Atalanta in major European competitions (excluding qualifiers).
Roma 4-0 Servette
Three goals in 14 second-half minutes helped last season’s finalists Roma brush aside Servette.
The hosts almost fell behind in the opening minute when Chris Bedia shot wide. Romelu Lukaku struck an opener and after the break substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini teed up Andrea Belotti to score before volleying in smartly for a goal of his own.
Belotti then wrapped up the scoring and a comfortable night for Roma.
Key stat: Lukaku has scored in his last 13 games in the UEFA Europa League, a total of 17 goals on a run dating back to 2014.
Villarreal 1-0 Rennes
Villarreal took their first points of the Europa League campaign with a hard-fought victory over Rennes. Alexander Sørloth’s stunning strike in the 36th minute proved enough to separate the two sides in a fast-paced game.
Rennes had the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot in added time, but substitute Martin Terrier was unable to mark his return from injury with a goal when Pepe Reina saved and the Rennes forward headed the rebound wide.
