Ajax sit atop the embryonic Europa League table tonight after a 4-0 thrashing of Besiktas.
The Amsterdammers, who are ninth in the Eredivisie, were far too strong for their Turkish opponents and established a three-goal lead inside the hour mark – Kian Fitz-Jim, Mika Godts and Kenneth Taylor all on target.
Godts added his second of the night for Francesco Farioli’s men with 17 minutes to go.
Steaua Bucharest also netted four, beating Rigas 4-1, while goals from Rayan Cherki and Said Benrahma saw Lyon cruise past Olympiacos 2-0.
Jose Mourinho, who won this competition with Manchester United in 2017, got off to a good start with his Fenerbahce side beating Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 in Istanbul.
A Caglar Soyuncu header and an own goal from Christian Burgess put Fener in control only for a late goal from Ross Sykes to give the Belgians hope.
Both sides finished with 10 men, USG’s Kevin Mac Allister and Fener’s Bright Osayi-Samuel both seeing red.
Prince Kwabena Adu and Vaclav Jemelka scored late goals to hand Viktoria Plzen a 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt while Sporting Braga competed an amazing recovery to see off Maccabi Tel-Aviv 2-1.
Late drama at Braga 🤯
Bruma scores an 88th-minute equaliser before bagging a 95th-minute winner!
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The Israelis led through Osher Davida’s penalty on the half-hour mark until the 88th minute.
Bruma equalised and then scored the winner from the spot after VAR awarded the penalty. Maccabi’s frustration spilled over and both Gavriel Kanichowsky and Tyrese Asante were sent off in injury-time.
There was also late drama in Rome. Artem Dovbyk put Roma ahead 32 minutes but Aitor Paredes netted an 85th-minute equaliser for Athletic Bilbao.
