🏆 UEL: Man Utd lose Europa League opener to Real Sociedad; Arsenal win | OneFootball

A week packed full of European football continues as the Europa League returns on Thursday night.

Here’s what went down.

Man Utd go down to well-organised Sociedad

Scorers: Méndez 59′ (PEN)

Cristiano Ronaldo burst forward and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but the Sociedad defence took full advantage of a moment’s hesitation from the number seven, although the flag had gone up in the build-up.

Ronaldo – making his Europa League debut – was onside after a lovely through ball from Cristian Eriksen but drew a blank for a second time.

The Portuguese star then had the ball in the back of the net with one of his trademark leaps and a powerful header, but it was ruled out for offside.

After half-time, Ronaldo had another two chances to score, the first a header just wide and the second blazed over the bar from distance.

After a superb clearance from Lisandro Martínez, the Argentine international handled the ball inside the penalty area. It looked certain to be overturned when replays showed it had hit his body before ricocheting onto his hand, but the penalty stood and was duly converted by Brais Méndez.

Despite almost constant attacks in the last 30 minutes, Erik ten Hag’s side just couldn’t create clear-cut chances versus a well-organised and resolute Real Sociedad team.

Lazio dominate Feyenoord

Scorers: Alberto 4′, Anderson 15′, Vecino 30′, 63′; Gímenez 69′, 88′

Lazio made a superb start to the match, taking the lead after some superb passing play, leaving Luis Alberto to finish from a one-on-one situation with Justin Bijlow.

And their lead was doubled after a quarter of an hour when Felipe Anderson dribbled past the Feyenoord defence and managed to squeeze the finish into the back of the net.

Matías Vecino, who had provided the assist for Alberto’s opener, was able to tap home to make it 3-0 from a Mattia Zaccagni cross that was initially palmed away by Bijlow.

Vecino added his second after half-time when Luis Alberto threaded a through-ball for the former Inter midfielder to finish.

Feyenoord pulled one back through a Santiago Gímenez penalty with twenty minutes to go, and the Mexico international made it 4-2 with just minutes remaining.

Monaco secure narrow win

Scorers: Embolo 74′ (PEN)

Monaco registered a win away from home versus Red Star, thanks to a Breel Embolo penalty.

Earlier today…

Arsenal overcome Zürich thanks to Nketiah’s second-half goal

Scorers: Kryeziu 44′; Marquinhos 16′, Nketiah 62′

Eddie Nketiah’s second-half goal was enough to overcome a spirited Zürich as Marquinhos excelled on his Arsenal debut.

The visitors struck first with debutant Marquinhos scoring inside 20-minutes. A swift counter-attacking move saw Eddie Nketiah released down the right wing to deliver an inch-perfect low cross to the 19-year-old whose tidy finish found the back of the net.

Against the run of play, Zürich drew level on the stroke of half-time. Arsenal fail to clear their lines following a corner as Eddie Nketiah brings down Fidan Aliti with a clumsy challenge. Kryeziu steps up from the spot and sends Matt Turner the wrong way.

The 23-year-old would redeem his mistake though as, on the hour mark, Nketiah put Arsenal back in front. A reverse of the earlier combination, Marquinhos crossed to the back post where the English striker planted his header beyond Yanick Brecher.

Zürich showed ambition as the clock ticked on but were unable to trouble Turner in the Arsenal goal, as Mikel Arteta’s side picked their first win of the European campaign.

PSV come from behind to draw with Bodø/Glimt

Scorers: Gakpo 61′; Grønbæk 44′;

Bodø/Glimt took the lead, against the run of play, on the stroke of halftime. The ball was fed out to Albert Grønbæk who, from the left-hand side, cut inside and fired a curling effort into the side netting.

Second-half substitute Cody Gakpo, who had been on the field for a matter of seconds, burst beyond the Bodø/Glimt defence to stroke home and draw PSV level.

Santana strikes late as Ludogorets sink Roma

Scorers: Cauly 72′, Santana 87′; Shomurodov 86′

The hosts found the lead with less than 20-minutes remaining thanks to some woeful defending by José Mourinho’s side. Driving at Roma, Cauly Sousa saw the defence split in front of him before gratefully dispatching is one on one.

Roma found their equaliser as, off the bench, Eldor Shomurodov got the Italian side back on level terms. A well-worked move down the right-hand side culminated in Lorenzo Pellegrini’s scores that was headed home by Shomurodov.

However, Ludogorets struck back immediately to steal back the lead. Keeping his composure in the penalty area, Gustavo Santana wriggled away from his defender to strike a major blow to Roma.

José double helps Real Betis see of HJK

Scorers: José 45+2′, 64′

Real Betis took the lead through William José’s penalty in first-half stoppage time with William Carvalho judged to have been fouled after a VAR review.

José stepped up and sent Conor Hazard the wrong way to give the visitors what was, on the balance of play, a deserved half-time lead.

The 30-year-old doubled Betis’ lead, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the penalty area to tap home from close range before HJK thought they had reduced the deficit a mere two minutes later, only for Malik Abubakri’s goal to be ruled off for offside.

Elsewhere…