In a thrilling night of Europa League action, Galatasaray emerged victorious over Tottenham Hotspur, defeating the English club 3-2 in Istanbul. This win handed Tottenham their first Europa League loss of the season, with Galatasaray powered by two goals from Victor Osimhen, who continues to shine for the Turkish side since joining on loan from Napoli. Meanwhile, Manchester United ended their wait for a Europa League win by defeating PAOK Thessaloniki 2-0 at Old Trafford, with Amad Diallo netting both goals.
Galatasaray quickly set the tone of the game with an incredible long-range strike from Yunus Akgun in the sixth minute, leaving Tottenham’s goalkeeper with no chance as the ball found the top corner. Despite the early setback, Spurs leveled the score in the 18th minute, with young Will Lankshear slotting in Brennan Johnson’s cross to mark his second senior appearance with a goal.
Before the first half ended, Galatasaray regained control. Osimhen scored twice in quick succession, with his first goal coming in the 30th minute and his second just eight minutes later. His volleyed effort from a cross by Dries Mertens caught Tottenham’s Fraser Forster off-guard, giving the home side a solid 3-1 lead going into halftime.
Osimhen has now tallied six goals in his first eight matches for Galatasaray, proving to be a crucial asset. His ability to find the back of the net consistently is one reason Galatasaray is now comfortably on top of their Europa League group with 10 points from four games. Tottenham, on the other hand, saw their perfect record crumble and currently sit in seventh place in the standings.
Tottenham’s comeback hopes were dampened when Lankshear received two yellow cards in succession, resulting in his dismissal. Despite the setback, substitute Dominic Solanke managed to pull one back for Spurs in the 69th minute, but the team couldn’t find an equalizer. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou admitted that his side struggled in the first half, facing a Galatasaray team with plenty of firepower and experience.
Elsewhere, Manchester United finally secured their first Europa League win of the season, defeating Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki 2-0. Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy praised Amad Diallo, who scored twice to lead the Red Devils to victory. Diallo’s first goal came shortly after halftime, a header that bounced in at the far post, giving United a well-deserved lead. His second goal was a beautiful solo effort that clinched the game with 13 minutes left.
The victory comes after United’s struggle in Europe under former manager Erik ten Hag, who was recently replaced by Van Nistelrooy. The interim boss, who will step down after the weekend’s Premier League fixture against Leicester, expressed confidence in Diallo’s potential, praising his dedication in training. Ruben Amorim will take over as United’s head coach after the international break, hoping to continue the club’s newfound momentum.
Other Europa League matches saw Lazio maintain their perfect record, defeating Porto 2-1 with a last-minute goal from Pedro. Ajax followed close behind in the standings, securing a 5-0 win against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Eintracht Frankfurt also impressed with a 1-0 victory over Slavia Prague, courtesy of a stunning free-kick from Omar Marmoush, now with 13 goals this season.
Athletic Bilbao managed a comeback win against Ludogorets, thanks to quick goals from Inaki Williams and Nico Serrano in the second half. Meanwhile, Roma’s struggles in Europe continued as they drew 1-1 against Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.
In another highlight of the night, Rangers held Olympiakos to a 1-1 draw in Greece, while Hoffenheim and Lyon thrilled fans with a last-minute 2-2 draw.
In the UEFA Conference League, Chelsea had an unforgettable night, recording an 8-0 win over FC Noah at Stamford Bridge. This win, led by doubles from Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku, marks the largest win in the competition’s history, furthering Chelsea’s lead in their group with nine points.
