The revamped Europa League kicked off with a bang, as Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt and Dutch side AZ Alkmaar claimed the first victories in the new format.
Bodø/Glimt, playing with ten men after a red card, staged a remarkable comeback to overcome Portuguese giants Porto 3-2. Porto got off to a flying start with Samu scoring early. However, Kasper Høgh equalized for Bodø/Glimt before Jens Petter Hauge struck twice to give his team a 3-1 lead. Porto managed to pull one back in the final minute through substitute Deniz Gül, but it was too little, too late.
Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar also secured a dramatic victory, edging past Swedish side Elfsborg 3-2. Timothy Ouma opened the scoring for Elfsborg, but AZ Alkmaar responded with two goals from Ruben van Bommel, one in each half. Simon Hedlund then leveled the score for Elfsborg before Troy Parrott stepped up to convert a late penalty, sealing the win for AZ Alkmaar.
The new Europa League format, mirroring the lucrative Champions League, features 36 teams instead of the previous 32, competing in a league system. This format, which replaces the traditional group stage, sees each team play eight matches against different opponents throughout January.
In a separate incident, around 60 Lazio fans were stopped by German authorities in Hamburg after attempting to avoid a police escort. The fans were found to be carrying weapons, including knives and clubs. They were banned from attending Lazio’s game against Dynamo Kyiv, which Dynamo is playing in Hamburg as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the fans were held overnight, no arrests were made.
The Europa League promises an exciting and competitive season, with the new format adding a fresh dimension to the competition. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the latest developments as the season unfolds.
