2' min
A hot August full of interesting matches for fans of continental trophies. The Europa League and the Conference League enter the Playoff stage after three rounds of preliminary qualification in the past weeks.
In the Europa League, many top-level teams are competing this season in this important competition, second only to the more prestigious Champions League. Yesterday, many of these teams with illustrious pasts and strong international experience took to the field.
First among them, Ajax, which in recent years has shone both in the league and in the Champions League. The Dutch team secured a convincing 4-1 away victory over Jagiellonia, putting them in a strong position to advance to the next round.
Braga-Rapid Vienna, another "headline" match from yesterday, saw more balance, with the Portuguese side narrowly winning 2-1. The outcome of the next round, in this case, will be decided in the return leg, as in this type of competition, a one-goal margin is often not enough to guarantee success.
The match between Ludogorets and the less experienced Petrocub also ended decisively, with Ludogorets winning 4-0. Viktoria Plzen, on the other hand, struggled against the Scottish team Hearts, securing a slim 1-0 win, with everything still to play for in the return leg away from home.
The Lugano-Besiktas match was characterized by deep balance, ending in a 3-3 draw, with the Swiss team securing a valuable point thanks to two goals in ten minutes and an own goal by Gabriel Paulista.
The Conference League Playoffs also saw action. The first round was marked by many certainties and just as many surprises.
Fiorentina, now familiar with this "minor" continental trophy, failed to overcome Puskas Academy. The match ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, with everything to play for in the return leg. For the Tuscan side led by new coach Palladino, advancing to the next round is crucial.
Chelsea, used to much bigger stages, faced Servette, who had "dropped down" from the Europa League in the previous round and is trying to stay in the European spotlight. The match ended, as most expected, with a 2-0 victory for the English side.
Other important Conference League matches:
- Lens 2 - Panathinaikos 1
- Copenhagen 2 - Kilmarnock 0
- Cluj 1 - Pafos 0
The next round of matches in six days will continue the European dream.
