Europa League Round-Up: AC Milan Stunned by Ferencvaros, Celtic Secure Five-Goal Thril
AC Milan suffered a surprising home defeat to Hungarian side Ferencvaros, while Celtic secured a dramatic late victory against Besiktas in a thrilling five-goal encounter as the Europa League returned with a full slate of fixtures.
Thursday evening saw 17 matches contested across the continent, featuring several prominent European clubs. Among the notable results, AC Milan hosted Ferencvaros at the San Siro, Juventus travelled to face AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, and Celtic welcomed Besiktas to Glasgow. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen took on Marseille, and Real Sociedad met Lyon.
Ferencvaros Shock Milan at San Siro
In one of the evening’s most significant upsets, AC Milan were defeated by Ferencvaros. The Hungarian outfit secured a memorable victory thanks to a second-half brace from Lenny Joseph. Joseph broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, before doubling Ferencvaros’ advantage 14 minutes later.
Despite Ferencvaros being reduced to ten men in the 77th minute following the dismissal of Yusuf, the visitors managed to hold on to their lead and secure a crucial three points. The result will undoubtedly be a disappointment for AC Milan, who would have been aiming for a strong performance on home soil.
Celtic Edge Besiktas in Glasgow Thriller
Celtic secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Besiktas in a pulsating encounter at Celtic Park. The Scottish side came from behind twice to claim all three points, with Camilo Duran proving to be the match-winner.
Besiktas took the lead in the 54th minute through Junior Olaitan, who converted the rebound after his penalty was saved. Celtic responded through substitute Callum Osmand, who levelled the score with a low strike from the edge of the box. However, the Turkish side regained their advantage. Duran then stepped up to score his second goal of the match in the 87th minute, securing a vital win for Celtic in front of their home supporters.
Juventus Secure Away Win, Lyon Draw
Juventus secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands. The Italian giants established a two-goal lead in the first half, with Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani both finding the net. AZ Alkmaar managed to pull a goal back in the second half, but Juventus held on to claim the win and begin their Europa League campaign positively.
Meanwhile, Lyon were forced to come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad. Orri Oskarsson had given the Spanish side the lead in the 28th minute with a header from close range. However, Corentin Tolisso equalised for Lyon nine minutes after the restart, controlling a lofted pass before volleying past the goalkeeper. Both teams had opportunities to win the match late on, with goalkeepers on both sides making crucial saves.
Marseille Secure Narrow Victory
Amine Gouiri’s late strike secured a crucial 1-0 victory for Marseille over Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena. The match remained goalless at halftime, with neither side able to find a breakthrough in a tightly contested first half. Gouiri eventually broke the deadlock in the closing stages of the second half, ensuring a much-needed European win for the French club.
The Europa League continues to deliver drama and unexpected results, with teams battling for crucial points in the group stages. The outcomes from Thursday’s fixtures set interesting dynamics for the remainder of the competition.
For further details on the Europa League fixtures, consult original match reporting.
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