Europa League: Roma stroll to win as Betis see off Ludogorets

AS Roma - HJK 3-0

The first-ever competitive meeting between AS Roma and HJK Helsinki ended with the Giallorossi sealing a convincing 3-0 win over their 10-man visitors in the UEFA Europa League (UEL).

It extends their home streak in European competitions to 20 undefeated games – the longest home run of any team in the continent.

In only their second-ever meeting with a Finnish side, having previously eliminated Ilves Tampere from the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991/92, Roma got off to an optimistic start against HJK, who went man down within the first quarter-hour following a cynical challenge on Andrea Belotti by last defender Miro Tenho.

With one eye on their weekend clash against Serie A high flyers Atalanta, the Europa Conference League holders then upped the ante in search of the opener. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nicolo Zaniolo and Belotti all had amazing chances in the final third as the half-time whistle approached, but the lack of clinical finishing was once more their undoing.

Those spurned chances would be forgotten within four minutes of the restart, as José Mourinho’s outfit cruised to a 2-0 lead, with Paulo Dybala’s introduction at the break being pivotal.

The playmaker drew first blood with a fantastic first-time finish, following some exquisite team play, before Pellegrini made the most of a defensive mishap and lodged in his side’s second.

Long awaited, Belotti scored his first Roma goal in five appearances as the final quarter-hour approached, with the ex-Torino marksman latching onto Zaniolo’s pass and tapping home the third to all but kill Helsinki’s spirits.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Andrea Belotti (AS Roma)

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Real Betis - Ludogorets 3-2

Real Betis earned a 3-2 win over a spirited Ludogorets to continue Los Verdiblancos’ perfect start to their UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign. Despite victory, Manuel Pellegrini’s side conceded their first home goal of the season.

Looking to build on their impressive LaLiga form, Betis made a fast start, seeing a penalty appeal from Luiz Henrique turned down before Andres Guardado forced Sergio Padt into an early save.

Ludogorets were beginning to grow into the contest as Bernard Tekpetey tested Claudio Bravo with a low shot, but Betis bit back to open the scoring shortly after.

Henrique had been denied moments earlier, but when a rasping effort from Sergio Canales couldn’t be held by Padt, Juan Miranda collected and crossed for the Brazilian to nod home.

The Eagles looked for a quick response, and Bravo was required to push away Cauly’s snapshot after the ball broke to him in the box. With half time fast approaching, Los Verdiblancos legend Joaquin struck a wondrous curling ball into the top right from the edge of the box to stun the visitors.

However, the Bulgarian champions pulled one back on the stroke of half time, after a misjudged Aitor Ruibal tackle gave Kiril Despodov the platform to whip a free-kick towards Bravo’s near post and just over the line.

Ludogorets had given a good account of themselves in Seville, but Betis’ quality was starting to shine through, and so it proved when the hosts restored their two-goal lead.

The Spanish side moved the ball around with pace and accuracy before Canales somewhat fortuitously collected his nutmeg and drove at the Eagles’ defence, firing low past Padt, who will be disappointed not to get a stronger hand on it.

Unwilling to give up hope, Rick made it 3-2 with little over 15 minutes to play with a driven shot from the edge of the box.

Stanislav Genchev’s side continued to search for an elusive equaliser, but despite a late scare, the in-form LaLiga side did enough to claim all three points.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Luiz Henrique (Real Betis)

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Braga - Union Berlin 1-0

Braga have won seven games in a row for the first time since February 2020, as Vitinha’s late strike earned them a crucial victory over Union Berlin in the Europa League. The German outfit’s European misery continued though, winning just two of their last nine matches in continental action. 

Unexpectedly top of the Bundesliga, Union needed a response after losing on matchday one. With the strike partnership of Sheraldo Becker and Jordan Siebatcheu restored, Die Eisernen looked threatening every time they went forward in a first half that lacked true quality in the final third.

On a rare occasion when the forward duo timed their movements correctly, Becker was released on goal but was unable to beat Matheus with a chipped attempt on the angle.

The best chance of the half fell to Diogo Leite, who spent last season on loan at Braga, with his difficult headed chance sliding wide via the post. The hosts had scored in all of their previous games this season, but were short of ideas in the attacking third against a famously stubborn Union rearguard.

Their most clear-cut opening came on the brink of the interval, with Vitinha releasing the in-form Simon Banza, but his shot was denied by Frederik Ronnow.

Urs Fischer’s men remained on top after the break and really ought to have taken the lead within three minutes of the restart. Siebatcheu laid the ball off to Ryerson on the right, but his effort was dragged agonisingly wide of the post. Unfortunately for the crowd inside the Estadio Municipal de Braga, quality attacks were in desperately short supply, as two sides on top of their game defensively cancelled each other out.

Artur Jorge’s men grew into the second half though, determined to maintain their scoring streak. Andre Horta unleashed a venomous strike that was well stopped by Ronnow, but the rebound fell to Vitinha to tap home the winner.

Eight games without defeat for Jorge at the helm now, while Union are perilously positioned in Group D, as they look to avoid a second consecutive exit at this stage in Europe.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Vitinha (Braga)

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In Other Fixtures:

The other game in Braga's group - Group D - saw Royale Union SG earn their second-straight Europa League victory with a 3-2 win over Swedish outfit Malmo. In a back-and-forth encounter, the visitors, Malmo, took the lead through Joseph Ceesay before the Belgian side levelled 11 minutes later with former Portsmouth player Christian Burgess getting on the scoresheet. 

Malmo retook the lead 12 minutes after half time but a two-goal burst in two minutes saw the home side take all three points. Malmo and Union Berlin are both pointless in the group and play each other in matchday three with the loser all but out of this year's competition.

Up in the Arctic Circle, Bodo/Glimt showed their fire with a 2-1 success over Zurich. The Norwegian side scored two goals in quick succession midway through the second half. Zurich replied with nine minutes to play to set up a tense finish, but Bodo/Glimt held on to go top of Group A with Arsenal and PSV postponed.

Rennes and Fenerbahce provided some late drama in France with the Turkish outfit scoring a 92nd minute penalty through Ener Valencia as the two sides drew 2-2. The hosts scored two quick-fire goals at the start of the second period, only to see Fenerbahce get one back soon after. Valencia then secured a point with his cool penalty as both sides remain unbeaten in Group B.

Dynamo Kyiv, however, remain bottom of that group after losing 1-0 to AEK Larnaca. The Cypriot side scored early through Adam Gyurcso and they held on for a precious victory.