European Football Thrills: Celtic's VAR Drama, Go Ahead Eagles' Comeback, Crystal Palace's Debut Win
European football witnessed a mix of drama and excitement last night. The Celtics' equalizer was controversially disallowed, while Go Ahead Eagles staged a comeback. Crystal Palace and Fenerbahce secured wins in their European debuts, and Bruno Genesio's Lille emerged victorious against Roma.
The Celtics' European campaign got off to a controversial start. A 'baffling' VAR decision disallowed their equalizer in a 2-0 loss to Braga. Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles produced a dramatic turnaround, coming from behind to beat Panathinaikos 2-1, with Milan Smit netting twice.
Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run to 19 games with a 2-0 victory against Dynamo Kyiv in their European debut. Fenerbahce also secured a 2-1 win over Nice, with Kerem Akturkoglu scoring both goals. However, Roma's European hopes took a hit as they lost 1-0 to Lille, missing three penalty attempts in the process. Lille's manager, Bruno Genesio, masterminded the victory.
Rayo Vallecano celebrated their return to Europe with a 2-0 win over Shkendija. Bologna drew 1-1 with Freiburg, while Aston Villa secured a 2-0 win over Feyenoord, with captain John McGinn on target again. Real Betis also won 2-0 against Ludogorets, thanks to a goal from Giovani Lo Celso and an own goal. Nottingham Forest, however, suffered a 3-2 loss to Midtjylland, leaving manager Ange Postecoglou without a win after six games in charge.
The Europa League provided plenty of talking points, from the Celtics' VAR controversy to Go Ahead Eagles' comeback. Crystal Palace and Fenerbahce started their European campaigns with wins, while Roma's penalty woes cost them dearly. Lille's victory under Bruno Genesio was another highlight, as was Rayo Vallecano's return to Europe. The group stage promises more excitement and drama.
