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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Simon Burnton (later) and Rob Smyth (earlier)

Arsenal 4-0 Standard Liege, Celtic 2-0 CFR Cluj: Europa League – as it happened

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli (second right) celebrates scoring their second goal with Reiss Nelson and Kieran Tierney.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli (second right) celebrates scoring their second goal with Reiss Nelson and Kieran Tierney. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

And that’s all from me. It was a disappointing early evening for Manchester United and Rangers, an excellent later evening for Arsenal and Celtic, and there was plenty of other fun including some drone-related madness in Luxembourg. Bye!

Unai Emery is dead chuffed:

Proud for the players ... I think we did a lot of things good ... I think it’s good.

But also:

I think we can improve, some moments to keep the ball, more long possession, and also better positioning of attacking players.

He says all this in an indistinct second-language mumble, mainly while staring blankly at his interviewer’s shoes.

Here’s Sachin Nakrani on Arsenal’s comfortable cruise against Standard Liege:

For Unai Emery this was an occasion to both savour his work and question himself. The Arsenal manager quite rightly took great delight in seeing his team maintain a perfect start to their Europa League campaign in rampant fashion but it hardly did his reputation as a judge of players much good that the man who got two of Arsenal’s four goals against Standard Liège is someone Emery does not feel has what it takes to be a striker.

That was Emery’s assertion of Gabriel Martinelli before this game yet he will now have to have a rethink. The 18-year-old, who arrived from the Brazilian side Ituano in the summer, scored two goals of high-quality, adding to the two he got against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup last month, and throughout looked a real threat from a centre-forward position. If he cannot make it as a goalscorer then it is hard to see who can.

Much more here:

Ewan Murray has filed his report on Celtic’s 2-0 win over Cluj:

Celtic exacted the perfect revenge on Cluj, architects of their Champions League downfall, with a victory every bit as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests.

Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, retains legitimate aspirations of progression from Group E; the Europa League has given the Scottish champions scope to develop. Dan Petrescu, Lennon’s opposite number, missed pre-match media duties after falling ill at a Glasgow hotel. The former Chelsea defender recovered sufficiently to bark instructions from the bench, even if nothing Petrescu witnessed would have raised his spirits. Celtic were superior in every department.

Much more here:

Updated

Joe Willock is extremely enthusiastic:

The manager drills into us to keep on going, even if it’s 3-0 or 4-0. We have to keep on pressing and try to score goals, so that’s what we try to do. It’s very exciting because we have a manager who wants to play youngsters. You just have to take every opportunity, try to work hard and try to make a difference. It’s so exciting at the moment.

Here’s Hector Bellerin on Martinelli:

He’s kept his head down, he’s worked very hard, he’s listened to the coaches, he’s listened to the players and it shows on the pitch. He’s doing what the coaches ask him to do which is the most important thing, and he’s still very young. I’m sure there’s a lot more to come from him.

On the subject of Dudelange, it turned out Luxembourg’s sports minister, Dan Kersch, was in the ground tonight and he took to the microphone amid the first-half drone-related chaos to appeal for calm and apologise on behalf of his country. Meanwhile Paul Philipp, president of the Luxembourg FA, sniffed that “sport doesn’t exist to make political statements”.

It’s all going wrong for Dudelange, down to 10 men after Mickael Garos got shown a second yellow card with half an hour to play, and now Dani Quintana has put Qarabag 4-0 up.

Final score: Celtic 2-0 Cluj

Celtic are top of Group E after two games, after beating the only side to win their first group game, and doing it in some style.

Final score: Arsenal 4-0 Standard Liege

Arsenal’s romp to victory over substandard Liege is complete! Martinelli never completed his hat-trick, but he did some extremely fine work tonight.

Trabzonspor’s lead over Basel lasted for precisely two minutes, the time it took Noah Okafor to equalise for the Swiss side.

Arsenal are in a semi-permanent state of almost-scoring at the moment. Somehow Standard are holding out.

Martinelli creates another good chance for Arsenal. This time Torreira’s shot hits a defender.

A couple of key goals to report: in Celtic’s Group E Lazio have come from behind to now lead Rennes 2-1, CIro Immobile with their latest. And in Group C Trabzonspor have precisely matched them, coming back to now lead Basel 2-1, Jose Sosa with their second.

Lazio’s Ciro Immobile (fourth left) scores their second goal.
Lazio’s Ciro Immobile (fourth left) scores their second goal. Photograph: Alberto Lingria/Reuters

Updated

And they could have scored a fifth! Martinelli is again the inspiration, running into the left of the area and pulling back to Pepe, whose shot hits a defender.

Arsenal have brought on Aubameyang in place of Nelson, for 10 minutes or so of full-throttle goal-sniffing.

A couple of goals have been pulled back: At Krasnodar, Ferreira Ari has made it 1-2 with 20 minutes to play, and at Rosenborg Samuel Adegbenro has made it 1-3.

Another goal at Lazio, where Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, whose brother Vanja is keeping goal for Standard Liege at Arsenal this evening, has equalised for the home side. 1-1 now!

A couple of other goals to tell you about: Markus Rosenberg has equalised for Malmo at home to Copenhagen, and Sporting have scored twice in five minutes to now lead LASK 2-1.

Sporting’s Luiz Phellype, right, scores his side’s first goal.
Sporting’s Luiz Phellype, right, scores his side’s first goal. Photograph: Armando Franca/AP

Updated

Elsewhere in Celtic’s Group E, Rennes have taken the lead at Lazio, where Jeremy Morel has made it 0-1.

Rennes’ Jeremy Morel, second left, opens the scoring against Lazio.
Rennes’ Jeremy Morel, second left, opens the scoring against Lazio. Photograph: Alessandra Tarantino/AP

Updated

GOAL! Celtic 2-0 Cluj (Elyounoussi, 60 mins)!

Forrest bursts down the right, gets into the area, waits for Elyounoussi to arrive in support and then passes to him on the edge of the area. He shoots across the keeper but it deflects off a defender and goes the other way, rolling just inside the post!

Celtic’s Mohamed Elyounoussi scores his side’s second goal courtesy of a deflection.
Celtic’s Mohamed Elyounoussi scores his side’s second goal courtesy of a deflection. Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA

Updated

GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 Standard Liege (Ceballos, 57 mins)

Ceballos scores his first goal for Arsenal, with Martinelli this time getting the assist! Played in on the right of the area he chips the ball over the keeper, and it might even have gone in and become one of the all-time most glorious keeper-chipping goals had Ceballos not turned it over the line (or a defender hooked it clear).

Arsenal’s Dani Ceballos scores their fourth goal.
Arsenal’s Dani Ceballos scores their fourth goal. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Updated

Ooof! Martinelli gets his studs on Nelson’s low cross, but can’t divert it into the net!

Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal goes millimetres away from getting his hat-trick.
Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal goes millimetres away from getting his hat-trick. Photograph: Andrew Fosker/BPI/Shutterstock

Updated

Apparently the Dudelange-Qarabag match has not been postponed, merely interrupted. According to a report on Luxembourgois website l’Essentiel, the drone “angered Azeri players and fans”, some fans invaded the field and some Qarabag players started fighting, though who with is not clear. The drone’s owner eventually guided it back to him on a nearby roof and scarpered, allowing the game to restart after a half-hourish stoppage. Qarabag are now 3-0 up, with the game approaching half-time.

Peeeeep! The second half has begun at Arsenal. And some other places, probably.

Jon Tumbridge is as close as I’ve got to an eyewitness. “A friend in Baku tells me that the Qarabag match has been suspended, as a drone with a ‘Qarabag Republic’ flag has been flown over the stadium,” he writes. “Both teams are off, they have found the pilot and the local plod are having a chat with the miscreant.”

Updated

All your half-time scores!

Group A
Sevilla 1-0 APOEL
Dudelange P-P Qarabag
Group B
Lugano 0-0 Dynamo Kyiv
Malmö 0-1 Cobenhagen
Group C
Krasnodar 0-1 Getafe
Trabzonspor 1-1 Basel
Group D
Rosenborg 0-3 PSV
Sporting 0-1 LASK
Group E
Celtic 1-0 Cluj
Lazio 0-0 Rennes
Group F
Vitoria Guimarães 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Arsenal 3-0 Standard Liège

Crazy scenes. And also quite puzzling.

A drone carrying an Armenian flag hovered over the centre circle, and the referee eventually decided that he could not guarantee the players’ safety.

Mad scenes at Dudelange, where the match has been abandoned, apparently because of a drone invasion!

General view as a drone flies over the pitch interrupting the match.
What’s that up in the sky? Is it a bird? is it a plane? No, it’s a drone. Photograph: François Walschaerts/Reuters

Updated

A puzzling non-penalty decision at Arsenal, where Nelson is played through, nicks the ball away from the advancing keeper and is then clattered. The referee waves play on.

Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson goes down after rounding Standard Liege’s keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson goes down after rounding Standard Liege’s keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Photograph: Tony O’Brien/Action Images via Reuters

Updated

The Cluj striker Mario Rondón has been booked at Celtic Park for a particularly egregious dive.

Cluj’s Mario Rondon is shown a yellow card by referee Daniel Siebert for his am-dram efforts.
Cluj’s Mario Rondon is shown a yellow card by referee Daniel Siebert for his am-dram efforts. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Updated

In Arsenal’s Group F, Eintracht Frankfurt are 1-0 up in Guimaraes, Obite Ndicka scoring. And PSV have scored a second goal in four minutes, Donyell Malen making it 3-0 at Rosenborg.

PSV Eindhoven have doubled their advantage in Rosenborg, their full-back Denzel Dumfries scoring with eight minutes to play in this first half.

Goals are flying in everywhere now. In Group C, Silvan Widmer gave Basel the lead at Trabzonspor in the 20th minute but Parmak has since equalised. There have only been two shots on target in that game, so that’s top-notch chance conversion. Meanwhile at Krasnodar, Rodriguez Angel has just given Getafe a 1-0 lead.

This was, I’m told, the first time in the entire recorded history of all time that Manchester United have played a Europa League game without mustering so much as a single shot on target.

Paul Doyle meanwhile was at Vodafone Park to see Wolves snatch victory over Besiktas through Willy Boly’s stoppage-time strike.

Wolves kickstarted their Europa League group stage campaign thanks to a stoppage-time goal by Wily Boly, who turned in a cross by Rúben Nevez to secure a memorable victory in Turkey. Wolves won all three of their away matches in the preliminary stages of this competition and Boly’s goal ensured this match ended up as the perfect way to atone for the home defeat by Braga in their first group game.


Much more here:

Paul Wilson has filed his match report from the Kyocera Stadium, site of Manchester United’s latest underwhelming away day:

Ole Gunnar Solskjær is still looking for his first away win as Manchester United’s permanent manager. Newcastle on Sunday would seem an inviting opportunity but Solskjær is going to have to alter his team and his tactics to have any hope of beating even demoralised opponents.

This was just as presentable a chance to turn a corner, yet a United side sorely lacking in ambition and creativity were unable to take it, merely adapting to AZ Alkmaar’s level and in the end being quite fortunate to escape with a draw.

Much more here:

Cluj have the ballo in the net at Celtic! But as Boli wheels away to celebrate he sees the linesman’s flag is raised, and it does appear that Rondón was six inches offside when Forster shovelled the ball straight into his path.

GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Standard Liege (Willock, 21 mins)

Arsenal have a third! Nelson’s shot from outside the area hits a defender and deflects to Willock, who takes a touch to control before shooting across the keeper and in!

Arsenal’s Joe Willock, second left, fires in the Gunners’ third.
Arsenal’s Joe Willock, second left, fires in the Gunners’ third. Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

Updated

GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Cluj (Edouard, 21mins)

That’s a super goal! A lovely ball through to Bolingoli, and he does brilliantly to catch it before it goes out of play and dink a cross to Edouard, who can hardly miss!

Odsonne Edouard heads Celtic into the lead.
Odsonne Edouard heads Celtic into the lead. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Updated

And two in Group A, where Qarabag are a goal up at Dudelange while Sevilla are beating Apoel Nicosia. Meanwhile at Celtic, Forrest somehow fails to find Edouard with a pull-back.

Two goals to report in Group D, where PSV have taken the lead at Rosenborg through Pablo Rosario, and LASK are 1-0 up at Sporting, thanks to Marko Raguz.

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Standard Liege (Martinelli, 16 mins)

And another one! This is so, so smart from Martinelli, who has the ball in the area on his left foot and looks set to head for the byline but suddenly changes his mind, checks back, and curls a right-footed shot inside the far post!

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli scores their second goal.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli curls a shot goalwards ... Photograph: Tony O’Brien/Action Images via Reuters
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli scores their second goal.
Then watches as it flies into the net. Photograph: Tony O’Brien/Action Images via Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Standard Liege (Martinelli, 14 mins)

A fine, long pass from right to left, Tierney’s cross picks out Martinelli right on the corner of the six-yard box. That was a tough chance, but he flashes his header past Milinkovic-Savic and in!

Twelve games. Ten minutes. No goals. Celtic have just come extremely close, though, only for Arlauskis to save.

Arsenal have started brightly. Willock gets into the area, but a defender flings out a foot to divert the ball into touch, off the Arsenal player.

BONG! The clock strikes eight, and they’re off!

Hello everyone! But a few moments away from kick-off in this evening’s 8pm matches. Quite a few empty seats at Arsenal, I see.

That’s it from me. Simon Burnton is waiting eagerly to be tagged in for the 8pm kick-offs. You can get in touch with him by emailing simon.burnton@theguardian.com or tweeting @Simon_Burnton. Night!

Final scores

Group G
Feyenoord 2-0 Porto Young Boys 2-1 Rangers

Group H
CSKA Moscow 0-2 Espanyol
Ferencváros 0-3 Ludogorets

Group I
Oleksandria 1-1 Gent
Saint-Étienne 1-1 Wolfsburg

Group J
Basaksehir 1-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
RZ Pellets WAC 1-1 Roma

Group K
Besiktas 0-1 Wolves
Sporting Braga 2-2 Slovan Bratislava

Group L
Astana 1-2 Partizan Belgrade
AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United

Full time: Besiktas 0-1 Wolves

A fine win for Wolves. Willy Boly scored the winner in injury time, a very calm finish after he was left alone in the area.

Full time: Young Boys 2-1 Rangers

That’s a bad result for Rangers. The winning goal was a terrible one to concede. James Tavernier missed an attempted interception, and then Christian Fassnacht’s shot went through the hand of the diving Allan McGregor.

Updated

GOAL! Besiktas 0-1 Wolves (Boly 90+3)

Wolves have nicked it!

Willy Boly of Wolverhampton Wanderers fires home a late winner.
Willy Boly of Wolverhampton Wanderers fires home a late winner. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Willy Boly celebrates scoring their first goal.
Which he’s pretty chuffed about. Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters

Updated

Full time: AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd

That’s a decent result for Manchester United. But the game was crap, and United didn’t have a single shot on target.

GOAL! Young Boys 2-1 Rangers (Fassnacht 90+3)

A sickener for Rangers!

Christian Fassnacht of Young Boys thumps home from the edge of the area to make the score 2-1 in the last minute of added time.
Christian Fassnacht of Young Boys thumps home from the edge of the area to make the score 2-1 in the last minute of added time. Photograph: Kieran McManus/BPI/Shutterstock
Young Boys’ Christian Fassnacht celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates.
Joy for the Young Boys players and fans. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Updated

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Jesse Lingard has gone off the field with a hamstring injury, so United are down to 10 men. United’s injury list is brutal.

Jesse Lingard of Manchester United pulls up after his hamstring goes.
Jesse Lingard of Manchester United pulls up after his hamstring goes. Photograph: Paul Currie/BPI/Shutterstock

Updated

Besiktas 0-0 Wolves Roman Saiss has had a late goal disallowed for offside. I think it was the right decision, though I’d like to see another replay.

Latest scores

Group G
Feyenoord 2-0 Porto Young Boys 1-1 Rangers

Group H
CSKA Moscow 0-1 Espanyol
Ferencváros 0-3 Ludogorets

Group I
Oleksandria 1-1 Gent
Saint-Étienne 1-1 Wolfsburg

Group J
Basaksehir 1-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
RZ Pellets WAC 1-1 Roma

Group K
Besiktas 0-0 Wolves
Sporting Braga 2-1 Slovan Bratislava

Group L
Astana 1-2 Partizan Belgrade (full time)
AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United

“This is probably the most boring game I’ve watched this calendar year,” says Pete W of AZ 0-0 Man Utd. “To anyone not watching: don’t bother trying to catch the highlights. With five minutes to go, there have been none.”

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United This would be a good result for United, even if their attacking performance has been pretty lamentable.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Lingard misses a good chance, flashing a shot just wide after a smart pass from the substitute Scott McTominay.

“I’m wondering what you make of Man Utd’s youth prospects?” says Rajiv. “Much has been made about them, maybe mostly by Solskjaer, but I honestly can’t see much of a future for them at a big club outside of James.”

Greenwood looks a cert to me and should be starting in the Premier League. I don’t think Chong will make it at United; I haven’t seen enough of Gomes, though he clearly has a lot of class. Rashford, who I thought would become a superstar after his performances in 2016, is regressing. The other one to watch is James Garner, who by all accounts is a terrific midfielder.

Updated

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Rashford goes down in the area after being clipped by the sliding Wuytens. That should have been a penalty, but the referee was unsighted and the assistant wasn’t interested.

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford is tackled by Alkmaar's Stijn Wuytens.
Alkmaar’s Stijn Wuytens slides in in an attempt to dispossess Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. Photograph: Peter de Jong/AP
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United reacts after being caught on the ankle by Alkmaar’s Stijn Wuytens.
Rashford reacts after being caught by Wuytens. Photograph: Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Updated

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United This United team have forgotten how to shoot, never mind score. Mind you, once upon a time it was even worse under Sir Alex Ferguson. In April 1989, United scored once in five games - and that was an own-goal from Tony Adams.

Latest scores

Group G
Feyenoord 1-0 Porto Young Boys 1-1 Rangers

Group H
CSKA Moscow 0-1 Espanyol
Ferencváros 0-3 Ludogorets

Group I
Oleksandria 1-1 Gent
Saint-Étienne 1-1 Wolfsburg

Group J
Basaksehir 1-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
RZ Pellets WAC 1-1 Roma

Group K
Besiktas 0-0 Wolves
Sporting Braga 2-1 Slovan Bratislava

Group L
Astana 1-2 Partizan Belgrade (full time)
AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Idrissi’s fierce shot is punched away by de Gea. Jesse Lingard has gone into the false 10 role, just behind Rashford.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Idrissi swishes a lovely shot just wide of the far post from 20 yards. AZ are starting to put United under increasing pressure. Here comes Jesse Lingard, on for Mason Greenwood. He had an anonymous game, mainly because nobody gave him the ball.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Fred puts hands on de Wit, who goes down in the area. The referee ignores AZ’s penalty appeals, and there’s no VAR. That could easily have been given, even though de Wit made a meal of it.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United David de Gea makes an acrobatic save, pushing away a long-range shot from Wijndal. That’s AZ’s third shot on target; United have had the square root of eff all.

GOAL! Sporting Braga 2-1 Slovan Bratislava Braga are back in front through Galeno.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United The service to Mason Greenwood has been abysmal. He had a decent chance in the first half, when his snapshot was blocked by Vlaar, but that’s all.

“That crop of Arsenal youngsters is awesome,” says Bill Hargreaves. “And that’s minus one Serge Gnabry. I hope they manage to fulfil their potential. On which subject: how much of top-level coaching is bringing on talent, how much getting the tactics right, how much motivating the team, and how much touchline attire?”

We all know the answer to that.

GOALS!

CSKA Moscow 0-1 Espanyol (Wu 64)
Ferencváros 0-3 Ludogorets (Rafael Forster 64)

Latest scores

Group G
Feyenoord 1-0 Porto Young Boys 1-1 Rangers

Group H
CSKA Moscow 0-0 Espanyol
Ferencváros 0-2 Ludogorets

Group I
Oleksandria 1-1 Gent
Saint-Étienne 1-1 Wolfsburg

Group J
Basaksehir 1-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
RZ Pellets WAC 1-1 Roma

Group K
Besiktas 0-0 Wolves
Sporting Braga 1-1 Slovan Bratislava

Group L
Astana 1-2 Partizan Belgrade (full time)
AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Marcus Rashford is on for Daniel James.

Arsenal v Standard Liege team news

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney, Willock, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Ceballos, Nelson, Martinelli.
Subs: Leno, Aubameyang, Pepe, Chambers, Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Xhaka.

Standard Liege (4-5-1) Milinkovic-Savic; Mergim Vojvoda, Vanheusden, Laifis, Gavory; M’Poku, Bastien, Cimirot, Boljevic, Lestienne; Emond.
Subs: Goreux, Lavelee, Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez, Bodart, Amallah, Fai, Avenatti.

Referee Sandro Scharer (Switzerland)

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United No sign of any substitutions yet. United have a few big names on the bench, including Marcus Rashford and former footballer Jesse Lingard. Half an hour remaining.

Basaksehir 1-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach (Visca 55)

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United The home side still look the likelier scorers, though it’s a poor game in truth.

Feyenoord 1-0 Porto Another goal in Rangers’ group: Jens Toornstra has given Feyenoord the lead.

Updated

GOAL! Young Boys 1-1 Rangers (Assale 51)

Roger Assale equalises from close range for Young Boys after brilliant play on the left by Ulisses Garcia.

Young Boys’ Roger Assale (right) gets the home side back on level terms.
Young Boys’ Roger Assale (right) gets the home side back on level terms. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Updated

RZ Pellets WAC 1-1 Roma An equaliser for the home side in Wolfsberg; Michael Liendl is the scorer.

Besiktas 0-0 Wolves Adama Traore has come on at half-time for Wolves in place of Pedro Neto.

The second halves are under way. Peep peep!

Celtic v CFR Cluj team news

Celtic (4-2-3-1) Forster; Elhamed, Jullien, Ajer, Bolingoli Mbombo; Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Elyounoussi, Christie; Edouard.
Subs: Gordon, Bitton, Sinclair, Bauer, Hayes, Rogic, Ntcham.

CFR Cluj (4-3-3) Arlauskis; Susic, Boli, Burca, Camora; Bordeianu, Luis Aurelio, Djokovic; Deac, Rondon, Omrani.
Subs: Fernandez, Paun, Culio, Golofca, Hoban, Peteleu, Cestor.

Referee Daniel Siebert (Berlin)

Updated

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “As a Karius sympathiser, I’m pleased to see that he’s keeping the Wolves at bay, so far.”

At the risk of puncturing the mood of generosity, Wolves haven’t had a shot on target.

Half-time scores

Group G

Feyenoord 0-0 Porto
Young Boys 0-1 Rangers

Group H
CSKA Moscow 0-0 Espanyol
Ferencváros 0-2 Ludogorets

Group I
Oleksandria 0-1 Gent
Saint-Étienne 1-1 Wolfsburg

Group J
Basaksehir 0-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
RZ Pellets WAC 0-1 Roma

Group K
Besiktas 0-0 Wolves
Sporting Braga 1-1 Slovan Bratislava

Group L
Astana 1-2 Partizan Belgrade (full time)
AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United

Updated

Sporting Braga 1-1 Slovan Bratislava The captain Andraz Sporar has equalised in the fourth minute of added time.

Half-time: AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd

Nothing to see here.

GOAL! Young Boys 0-1 Rangers (Morelos 44)

Alfredo Morelos has given Rangers a deserved lead, sweeping confidently past David von Ballmoss from 12 yards.

Alfredo Morelos strikes to put Rangers ahead just before half-time.
Alfredo Morelos strikes to put Rangers ahead just before half-time. Photograph: Kieran McManus/BPI/Shutterstock

Updated

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Victor Lindelof has been excellent, comfortably United’s best player, and he makes another classy interception to thwart a promising AZ attack.

Ferencváros 0-2 Ludogorets Rafael Forster doubles Ludogorets’ lead in Hungary.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United Angel Gomes misses a half-chance at the far post from a very fast cross by Dalot. United have played pretty well for most of the half, but there is a lack of conviction in attack.

Updated

“Bob,” says Mac Millings. “Wolf XI. Two of them aren’t real footballers - can you spot them?

  1. Hamish McLupine
  2. Christian Fox
  3. Jackal Wilshere
  4. Ray Houndton
  5. Eamonngrel Bannon
  6. Alpha-Male Inge Haaland
  7. Doglas Costa
  8. Wolf Mannion
  9. Predatore Andre Flo
  10. Jos Muttler
  11. Hyena Sharples.”

Jos Muttler!

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United A chance apiece. Mason Greenwood’s close-range shot is blocked by Ron Vlaar, and then Myron Boadu mistimes a header from eight yards.

Sporting Braga 1-0 Slovan Bratislava Braga, who beat Wolves in the opening game, are ahead through Bruno Viana.

Sporting Braga’s are ahead courtesy of the bonce of Bruno Viana, second right.
Sporting Braga’s are ahead courtesy of the bonce of Bruno Viana, second right. Photograph: Luis Vieira/AP

Updated

Latest scores

Group G

Feyenoord 0-0 Porto
Young Boys 0-0 Rangers

Group H
CSKA Moscow 0-0 Espanyol
Ferencváros 0-1 Ludogorets

Group I
Oleksandria 0-1 Gent
Saint-Étienne 1-1 Wolfsburg

Group J
Basaksehir 0-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
RZ Pellets WAC 0-1 Roma

Group K
Besiktas 0-0 Wolves
Sporting Braga 0-0 Slovan Bratislava

Group L
Astana 1-2 Partizan Belgrade (full time)
AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United

Updated

RZ Pellets WAC 0-1 Roma Leonardo Spinazzola has given Roma the lead in Austria.

Roma’s Leonardo Spinazzola, third from left, watches his shot go into the net to give the visitors the lead.
Roma’s Leonardo Spinazzola, third from left, watches his shot go into the net to give the visitors the lead. Photograph: Ronald Zak/AP

Updated

Besiktas 0-0 Wolves It’s not a classic, yet.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United The home side are controlling the game now. United, as they have for most of the season, look impotent in attack.

RZ Pellets WAC 0-0 Roma AS Roma are wearing their third kit in Austria. It’s a beauty.

Saint-Étienne 1-1 Wolfsburg The Brazilian defender William equalises for Wolfsburg in France.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United David de Gea makes a good diving save from Idrissi’s 20-yard strike, which kicked up awkwardly off the plastic pitch. AZ are starting to look the more dangerous side.

Latest scores

Group G

Feyenoord 0-0 Porto
Young Boys 0-0 Rangers

Group H
CSKA Moscow 0-0 Espanyol
Ferencváros 0-1 Ludogorets

Group I
Oleksandria 0-1 Gent
Saint-Étienne 1-0 Wolfsburg

Group J
Basaksehir 0-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
RZ Pellets WAC 0-0 Roma

Group K
Besiktas 0-0 Wolves
Sporting Braga 0-0 Slovan Bratislava

Group L
Astana 1-2 Partizan Belgrade (full time)
AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Manchester United

Updated

Saint-Étienne 1-0 Wolfsburg Timothee Kolodziejczak has done a goal.

“Good spot from Nigel,” says Matt Dony. “I might drive a couple of towns over and follow the MBM from The Wolfe Inn, Wolfscastle. (Partly because it’s fitting, but also because everything is better in Pembrokeshire, and I still feel a little dirty having crossed county lines.) is Ricky Van Wolfswinkel playing?”

I beg your pardon?

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd Boadu has a goal rightly disallowed for offside.

Alkmaar’s Myron Boadu, right, heads the ball past Manchester United’s goalkeeper David de Gea but it’s chalked off for offside.
Alkmaar’s Myron Boadu, right, heads the ball past Manchester United’s goalkeeper David de Gea but it’s chalked off for offside. Photograph: Peter de Jong/AP

Updated

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd United’s team is not quite as expected. Daniel James is playing up front, with Gomes left, Greenwood right and Mata in the hole.

Oleksandria 0-1 Gent The former Huddersfield forward Laurent Depoitre has given Gent the lead in Ukraine.

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Man Utd Nothing much to report so far. The plastic pitch looks very fast, but United have started pretty well.

Ferencvaros 0-1 Ludogorets An early goal in Hungary, with Jody Lukoki given Ludogorets the lead.

“After a cracking Premier League result on Saturday, which has lifted the relegation gloom, I’m looking for a big win tonight for Wolves,” says Pete Higginson. “Though we’ll miss Jota, I predict a 3-1 win for us.”

Peep peep! The 5.55pm games are under way.

Louis van Gaal, who won the Eredivisie with AZ in 2009 and the FA Cup with United, is at their match. Only one of his signings, Marcos Rojo, is in United’s starting line-up.

Updated

“What a coincidence,” says Nigel in Toronto. “Three games at the same time involving Wolfsburg, Wolfsberger and Wolverhampton.”

And in the spirit thereof, I’m trying to wolf down my supper before those matches kick off.

Partizan Belgrade have won 2-1 away to Astana, which puts them top of Group L for the time being.

There’s one early game in Group L, which is Manchester United’s group. The half-time score is Astana 0-1 Partizan Belgrade.

Partizan Belgrade’s Umar Sadiq opens the scoring against Astana.
Partizan Belgrade’s Umar Sadiq opens the scoring against Astana. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev/Reuters

Updated

Besiktas v Wolves team news

Besiktas (4-3-3) Karius; Douglas, Vida, Uysal, Pedro Rebocho; Tokoz, Elneny, Ljajic; Lens, Yalcin, Nkoudou.
Subs: Roco, Mehmet Nayir, Ozyakup, Hutchinson, Gonul, Erkin, Yuvakuran.

Wolverhampton (3-4-2-1) Rui Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Jonny; Gibbs-White, Pedro Neto; Raul Jimenez.
Subs: Vallejo, Bennett, Cutrone, Ruddy, Ruben Vinagre, Dendoncker, Traore.

Referee Harald Lechner (Austria)

AZ Alkmaar v Man Utd team news

The young left-back Brandon Williams makes his first start for United, while Mason Greenwood is up front.

AZ Alkmaar (4-3-3) Bizot; Sugawara, Vlaar, Wuytens, Wijndal; Midtsjoe, de Wit, Koopmeiners; Stengs, Boadu, Idrissi.
Subs: Chatzidiakos, Ouwejan, Druijf, Aboukhlal, Clasie, de Boer, Reijnders.

Man Utd (4-2-3-1) de Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Rojo, Williams; Fred, Matic; Mata, Gomes, James; Greenwood.
Subs: Maguire, Rashford, Lingard, Romero, Tuanzebe, McTominay, Chong.

Referee Gediminas Mazeika (Lithuania)

Brandon Williams starts for United.
Brandon Williams starts for United. Photograph: Paul Currie/BPI/Shutterstock

Updated

Young Boys v Rangers team news

Young Boys (4-4-2) Ballmoos; Janko, Sorensen, Zesiger, Garcia; Fassnacht, Aebischer, Lustenberger, Gaudino; Assale, Nsame.
Subs: Wolfli, Petignat, Ngamaleu, Burgy, Mambimbi, Lotomba, Schupbach.

Rangers (4-1-4-1) McGregor; Tavernier, Helander, Goldson, Barisic; Kamara; Arfield, Jack, Davis, Ojo; Morelos.
Subs: Barker, Defoe, Foderingham, Halliday, Katic, Stewart, King.

Referee Manuel Schuettengruber (Austria)

Updated

Preamble

Hello. You’ll not believe this, but there’s more football on tonight. Yep, it’s time for Matchday 2 of the Europa League, with 24 games in all. It’s too early to talk of must-win game for anyone, though Wolves could do with at least a draw in Turkey after their disappointing defeat to Braga in the opening game. And Manchester United would like to win in the Netherlands to take a bit of heat off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose pitiful inability to instantly turn someone else’s sow’s ear into a silk purse has been exposed.

The storm damage to Alkmaar’s home ground means the match will be played on a synthetic pitch at ADO Den Haag’s ground. Alkmaar are a good side, only one point behind Ajax and PSV in the Eredivisie, and are generously priced to win this game. We’ll have team news for all the 5.55pm kick-offs any minute now.

Tonight’s fixtures (all times BST)

Matches involving British sides in bold, because Brexit means Brexit

Group A
Dudelange v Qarabag (8pm)
Sevilla v Apoel Nicosia (8pm)

Group B
Lugano v Dinamo Kyiv (5.55pm)
Malmö v Copenhagen (5.55pm)

Group C
Krasnodar v Getafe (8pm)
Trabzonspor v Basel (8pm)

Group D
Rosenborg v PSV Eindhoven (8pm)
Sporting Lisbon v LASK (8pm)

Group E
Celtic v Cluj (8pm)
Lazio v Rennes (8pm)

Group F
Arsenal v Standard Liege (8pm)
Vitória Guimarães v Eintracht Frankfurt (8pm)

Group G
Feyenoord v Porto (5.55pm)
Young Boys v Rangers (5.55pm)

Group H
CSKA Moscow v Espanyol (5.55pm)
Ferencvárosi v Ludogorets (5.55pm)

Group I
Oleksandria v Gent (5.55pm)
Saint-Étienne v Wolfsburg (5.55pm)

Group J
Basaksehir v Borussia Mönchengladbach (5.55pm)
RZ Pellets WAC v Roma (5.55pm)

Group K
Besiktas v Wolves (5.55pm)
Sporting Braga v Slovan Bratislava (5.55pm)

Group L
Astana v Partizan Belgrade (3.50pm)
AZ Alkmaar v Manchester United (5.55pm)

Updated

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