The 2024-25 UEFA Europa League Matchday 1 took place over the last two days and saw some surprising results as Manchester United drew at Old Trafford against Twente, while Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham won 3-0 against Qarabag in their first home game of the European campaign. Here are the winners and losers of the round:
Winner: Jose Mourinho
The Portuguese coach started off his Europa League campaign well as Fenerbahce won 2-1 against Union Saint-Gilloise. Mourinho’s team had a positive performance and scored twice with defenders, opener Caglar Söyüncü and Christian Burgess’ own goal before Ross Sykes’ goal before the final whistle gave the visitors something to cheer for. Mourinho’s side needed a win to react after the disappointing 3-1 defeat against Galatasaray in the Istanbul derby over the last weekend.
Winners: Lazio
Marco Baroni’s side won 3-0 against Dynamo Kyiv and convinced many after a good win thanks to a brace of former Salernitana man Boulaye Dia and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s goal. The Biancocelesti had a challenging summer with big changes, as former key players Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson and captain Ciro Immobile all left the club, while Baroni replaced former manager Igor Tudor, who replaced Maurizio Sarri at the end of March. The former Verona manager started a new cycle this season, and despite some initial issues, it seems that he’s starting to figure more things out after a solid European debut.
Losers: Manchester United
Erik ten Hag’s side are the favorites to win the tournament but things are not looking good after the 1-1 draw against Twente in their opening game in the competition. Despite the opening goal of Christian Eriksen, the away side managed to find the equalizer with Sam Lammers at Old Trafford and showed once again how this team can’t be consistent during the season.
Winner: Ivan Juric
The 1-1 against Athletic Club wasn’t the result he wanted, considering the Spanish side only scored their goal in the final minutes of the game at the Stadio Olimpico, but new AS Roma coach Ivan Juric can definitely be satisfied about his first two games after he replaced former captain and icon Daniele De Rossi. Under his management, the Giallorossi won 3-0 against Udinese on Sunday and then drew against Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic, one of the best teams in the competition. A good start that can make the Croatian manager smile for the future.
Loser: Radu Dragusin
Despite the 3-0 win of Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham at home against Qarabag, former Genoa man Radu Dragusin was sent off seven minutes into the game. Dragusin becomes the first player to be sent off on his debut in major European competition for Tottenham, while his seventh-minute red card is Spurs’ earliest from the start of a major European match.
Wednesday, Sept. 25
AZ 3, IF Elfsborg 2
Bodo Glimt 3, Porto 2
Anderlecht 2, Ferencvaros 1
Dynamo Kyiv 0, Lazio 3
Galatasaray 3, PAOK 1
Nice 1, Real Sociedad 1
Ludogorets 0, Slavia Praha 2
Midtjylland 1, Hoffenheim 1
Manchester United 1, Twente 1
Thursday, Sept. 26
Malmo 0, Rangers 2
Fenerbahce 2, Union Saint-Gilloise 1
Roma 1, Athletic Club 1
Ajax 4, Besiktas 0
Braga 2, Maccabi Tel Aviv 1
Lyon 2, Olympiakos Piraeus 0
Eintracht Frankfurt 3, VIktoria Plzen 3
Tottenham 3, Qarabag 0
Steaua Bucuresti 4, Rigas Futbola Skola 1
