SC Freiburg and Sturm Graz started the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League with victories, while Union Berlin and Zürich went away empty-handed.
UEFA.com rounds up Thursday’s games.
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Man United – Real Sociedad 0:1
Cristiano Ronaldo started United’s start to the group stage and saw an uneventful first half. The only highlight was an offside goal by the Portuguese, who was in the forbidden zone on a cross from Diogo Dalot.
The game then picked up speed in the second half and Real Sociedad took the lead in the 59th minute through a converted penalty by Brais Méndez. The Red Devils tried to find an answer as the second half progressed, but the Spaniards didn’t really pose a threat in the penalty area.
Zurich – Arsenal 1:2
Marquinhos led Arsenal to victory on his debut for the Gunners with a goal and an assist. The 19-year-old scored the opening goal of the 2022/23 group stage following 16 minutes, converting an Eddie Nketiah cross.
Zürich equalized through a converted penalty from Mirlind Kryeziu, but Nketiah restored the gap by heading in from a Marquinhos assist in the 62nd minute to score the winner.
Union Berlin – St Gilloise 0:1
In their first home game in the UEFA Europa League, the Berliners found it difficult from the start to create good scoring chances once morest brave guests. Consequently, it was also the Belgians who set the first exclamation mark. In the 39th minute, Senne Lynen scored the well-deserved lead following fine preliminary work from Victor Boniface.
Berlin struggled for a response in the second half but continued to struggle to combine dangerously into the visitors’ penalty area. Much more than a header from Kevin Behrens and a blocked shot from Sven Michel, who saw the red card shortly before the end, didn’t jump out of it.
Freiburg – Karabakh 2:1
The Breisgau team got off to a dream start and were already 2-0 up following 15 minutes thanks to goals from Vincenzo Grifo and Ritsu Doan. The visitors were undeterred and reduced the deficit in the 39th minute with a long-range shot by Marko Vešović.
After the break, a balanced game developed in which Nils Petersen missed the chance to make it 3-1 with a header in the middle of the second half. The Azerbaijani champions dodged dangerously in the hosts’ penalty area on one or two occasions, but in the end Freiburg saved the win across the finish line.
Sturm Graz – Central Jutland 1:0
The Austrians didn’t need any warm-up time and took the lead in the eighth minute through Emmanuel Emegha. In the 24th minute, Emegha almost tied the brace but failed to hit the crossbar. In the 42nd minute, Tomi Horvat missed a great chance to make it 2-0 with a missed penalty.
Jon Stankovič failed in the 62nd minute for the hosts for the second time on the crossbar, in the 70th minute Graz weakened themselves with a yellow-red card for Stefan Hierländer. Despite being outnumbered, the Danes did not manage to equalize to achieve.
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What else has happened?
• Roma, who qualified for the UEFA Europa League last season as winners of the UEFA Europa Conference League, started the competition with a 2-1 defeat by Ludogorets of Bulgaria.
• Michy Batshuayi scored the winner once morest Dynamo Kyiv in added time on his debut for Fenerbahçe.
• Ferencváros defeated Trabzonspor 3-2 despite being outnumbered from the 16th minute. Tocmac Nguen was the match winner for Hungary with two goals and one assist.
All results of the 1st match day
Group A: Zurich – Arsenal 1:2, PSV Eindhoven – Bodø/Glimt 1:1
Group B: AEK Larnaca – Rennes 1:2, Fenerbahce – Dynamo Kyiv 2:1
Group C: Ludogorets – Roma 2:1, HJK Helsinki – Real Betis 0:2
Group D: Malmö – Braga 0:2, Union Berlin – St. Gilloise 0:1
Group E: Man United – Real Sociedad 0:1, Omonoia – Sheriff 0:3
Group F: Lazio – Feyenoord 4:2, Sturm Graz – Central Jutland 1:0
Group G: Freiburg – Karabakh 2:1, Nantes – Olympiacos 2:1
Group H: Red Star – Monaco 0:1, Ferencváros – Trabzonspor 3:2
All Matchday 2 matches (September 15)
Group A: Arsenal – PSV Eindhoven (21:00), Bodø/Glimt – Zurich (21:00)
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv – AEK Larnaca (21:00), Rennes – Fenerbahce (21:00)
Group C: Real Betis – Ludogorets (21:00), Roma – HJK Helsinki (21:00)
Group D: St Gilloise – Malmö (21:00), Braga – Union Berlin (21:00)
Group E: Real Sociedad – Omonoia (18:45), Sheriff – Man United (18:45)
Group F: Central Jutland – Lazio (18:45), Feyenoord – Sturm Graz (18:45)
Group G: Olympiacos-Fribourg (18:45), Karabakh – Nantes (18:45)
Group H: Trabzonspor – Crvena zvezda (18:45), Monaco – Ferencváros (18:45)
