Category: Football (Soccer)

An impossible dream realised: the Vitality Stadium staging European football, where the Europa League is becoming an oasis for Bournemouth. No wins yet in the Premier League, but beating Sturm Graz following up winning away at Real Sociedad should calm the domestic pressures mounting on Marco Rose. A pair of Brazilians secured club history, with Evanilson’s first-half header followed by Rayan’s later drive, a clincher coming just as the Austrian visitors were pushing hard for an equaliser. Álvaro Rodríguez’s stoppage-time penalty extended the celebrations.

Flag day at the Vitality. Elvis Presley’s high baritone and Andy Williams’ tenor on the public address system marked a different type of occasion. Bournemouth have come a significant distance. “Minus 17 to European dreams” read a banner in the Steve Fletcher stand, marking the journey from the foot of the Football League to becoming a model, continental club. Milan visit next week, an occasion to further broaden the smile of Bill Foley, Bournemouth’s financier present in the posh seats. “A long time coming,” said Bournemouth’s long-serving captain, Adam Smith. “The fans were up for it, the players were up for it.”

South coast sides were coasting as Bournemouth and Brighton registered big wins, but Celtic fell to heavy defeat at Benfica

8.10pm: Duran heads wide as Benfica go in search of a second.

And Duran makes no mistake from the spot, lifting a cheeky Panenka over Sinisalo! Pretty harsh that penalty call, I fear.

• Sage loses 3-2 to former side; Benfica 4-1 Celtic

• Juventus go top with 2-1 win over Celta Vigo

Pierre Sage endured a frustrating return to Lyon in the Europa League as his Crystal Palace side lost 3-2 to his former employers at the Groupama Stadium.

Corentin Tolisso opened the scoring for the hosts and Ernest Nuamah doubled Lyon’s advantage late in a first half without a shot on target for the visitors. Yéremy Pino halved the deficit five minutes after the break before Pavel Sulc restored the Ligue 1 side’s two-goal advantage. The Palace substitute Daichi Kamada pulled one back with nine minutes remaining in a better second half for Palace, who could not find an equaliser.

Black Cats can reboot season against Torreense in Europa League in break from tough start to the Premier League

There is a pleasing symmetry about Sunderland’s Europa League trip to Portugal to face Torreense on Thursday night. The club’s last competitive venture on European soil, 53 years ago, was the second leg of a European Cup Winners’ Cup second-round tie against Sporting in Lisbon for the FA Cup holders, then in the Second Division.

In a striking parallel, second-tier Torreense prompted widespread surprise by beating Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final last season. The reward was a place in the Europa League’s initial phase and their chances of reaching next spring’s sudden-death rounds were boosted when they beat Lillestrom 2-1 in Norway last month.