News Archive

Europa League group stage, day two

Good results again for La Liga teams in the second round of group games on Thursday. Villarreal top their mini-league after a 1-1 draw at Steaua Bucharest, Santos Borré giving Fran Escribá’s side an early lead before Sully levelled it for the Romanians. Celta clocked up their first win, late strikes from Scandinavian pairing Guidetti and Daniel Wass giving them a 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos. The Galicians are now second behind Ajax, who they meet twice over their next two games. And later in the evening Athletic Bilbao beat Rapid Vienna 1-0, Beñat getting the only goal on the hour mark. Their group is now all square, with the four teams having won one and lost one. (29.09.16)

Steaua Bucharest 1 - Villarreal 1

Villarreal top their mini-league after a 1-1 draw at Steaua Bucharest on Thursday evening. Fran Escribá made several changes to his lin-up, but even so Santos Borré gave them an early lead after running on to Bruno’s pass to turn a shot under Nita. However just ten minutes later Sully made it all square after Andrés Fernández allowed Amorim’s cross through his hands. Amorim rattled the crossbar after the break, and Rukavina was lucky to be let off a possible penalty when he handled the ball in the area. Escribá brought on Castillejo, Soriano and then Bakambu (returning from a long injury lay-off) to steady the ship though, and José Angel came close to winning it when Nita just got a hand to push his last minute free kick over the bar. (29.09.16)

Celta 2 – Panathinaikos 0

Celta clocked up their first Europa League win, a 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos taking them up to second in their group behind Ajax, who they meet twice over their next two games. The Galicians struggled early on though, Berg and Lod shooting wide for the visitors, and Sergio Alvarez having to make a couple of saves before the break. However with five minutes to go Guidetti got on the end of a cross from fellow Scandinavian Daniel Wass to to put the locals ahead. And although Alvarez had to keep out Ibarbo soon afterwards, Wass wrapped things up with a well struck free kick past Steele near the end. (29.09.16)

Athletic Bilbao 1 – Rapid Vienna 0

Athletic Bilbao got their European campaign back on track with a 1-0 victory over Rapid Vienna 1-0, and with Genk beating Sassuolo elsewhere, their group is now all square, with the four teams having won one and lost one. The match took a bit of time to get going, but the Basque side had the better chances before the break, Strebinger having to save from Beñat, Raúl García and Aduríz, and Yeray heading against the post. With half time approaching there was a curious incident when Williams turned a pass from Aduríz in to the net, French referee Tony Chaprón at first giving the goal, then deciding it was a penalty for a foul on Aduríz, and after consulting with his linesman ruling that the striker was offside! However with an hour on the clock Beñat fired home the opener after Raúl García headed the ball back across the area, and Williams and Mikel Rico could have added to the scoreline in the final minutes. (29.09.16)