12 things you may have missed from all 24 Europa League games

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The Europa League group stages got underway on Thursday night with a total of 24 games being played across the continent.

For the British sides, Steven Gerrard’s Rangers gained an impressive draw away to Villarreal, while Chelsea beat PAOK 1-0 in Greece.

Meanwhile, Arsenal overcame Ukranian side Vorskla Poltava 4-2 and Celtic snatched a late 1-0 against Rosenborg, while there was the usual multitude of goals and flashpoints across the continent.

Here are 12 talking points you might have missed from the opening round of Europa League group games.

1. Santi’s back

Santi Cazorla’s assist for Villarreal’s second goal against Rangers was the Spaniard’s first in European competition since October 2016, with his last one coming for Arsenal in a 6-0 win over Ludogorets in the Champions League.

Cazorla looked in fine form too, ending the game with a 91% pass success rate, a team-high five key passes and 82 touches of the ball.

There’s life in the old dog yet.

2. The rain in Spain falls mainly on… Rangers

(Photo credit PAU BARRENA/AFP/Getty Images)

Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Villarreal was an impressive result for Rangers and, despite soaking up an immense amount of pressure, they could have even won the game late on.

However, what their failure to win does mean is that the Gers have now failed to beat a Spanish team away from home in 13 attempts, losing 10 and drawing three.

Their only, to date, on Spanish soil came in the 1972 Cup Winners Cup final against Dinamo Moscow.

3. Some people just live to give

Stamford Bridge is a gruelling 1,891 journey for the Chelsea faithful to make.

However, for the Blues supporters brave enough to make this midweek trip, it was all made worth it by their ever-generous chairman, Bruce Buck, who was spotted handing out packets of crisps to the Chelsea fans who had headed out to Thessaloniki.

What a lovely guy.

4. 15th time’s a charm

As the famous old saying goes: ‘If at first, you don’t succeed, try and try again, and again, and again…’

At the 15th attempt, French side Rennes have finally won their first-ever Europa League/Uefa Cup game, triumphing 2-1 over Czech side FK Jablonec thanks to a 91st minute Hatem Ben Arfa penalty.

Patience personified.

5. What a hit son, what a hit

If Ben Arfa’s goal was pure relief for Rennes fans, then Ismaila Sarr’s opening goal had them in a hysterical frenzy.

The 20-year-old Senegal star has certainly been turning a few heads in France, even being nominated for Tuttosport’s prestigious Golden Boy award.

And, on Thursday night, he gave us all another reminder of his growing talents with an absolutely sumptuous volley to give Les Rouges et Noirs a first-half lead.

There’s a bright future ahead for this one.

6. Like a London bus

(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Just like his strike partner/rival Alexandre Lacazette before him, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged a debut European goal for Arsenal against Vorskla Poltava, both doing so in 2018.

The last Gunners star to score on their European debut for the club was now-Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain way back in 2011.

Lacazette and Aubameyang doing their best London bus impressions.

7. Yellow Submarines don’t hang about

Remember Carlos Bacca? Well, he’s still banging goals in at the highest level and took just 45 seconds to give Villarreal the lead against Rangers

Bacca hadn’t even given most of the Villarreal fans a chance to take their seats in the El Madrigal before he capitalised on a defensive mix-up in the Rangers back-line and lobbed a smart finish over Allan McGregor.

If Bacca thinks he has a chance of setting a Europa League record for the fastest goal scored, though, then he will be disappointed as that honour belongs to Jan Sýkora, who scored after just 10.69 seconds for Slovan Liberec against Qarabag in 2016.

8. Danny Welbeck is an OCD king

For anyone who suffers from OCD, Danny Welbeck has probably just made your day.

The England striker’s goal against Vorskla Poltava meant he had scored in both of his first two home games of the 2018-19 season.

That is an exact repeat of what he did last season, going on to have his most prolific season to date at the Emirates with 11 goals.

9. Consistent Chelsea make another strong start in Europe

Chelsea’s 1-0 win over PAOK meant that Maurizio Sarri has become the 10th consecutive Blues manager to win their first European game for the club.

The last to fail to do so was Claudio Ranieri who guided Chelsea to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of St Gallen back in 2000.

Sarri will be keen to make sure that stat doesn’t get added to any time soon.

10. Europa League kings strike again

Sevilla have won five out of the last 13 Europa League titles and are true experts of the competition.

On Thursday, they got their latest campaign off to a great start, putting Belgian side Standard Liege to the side in a 5-1 thrashing.

That win means that the Spaniards have now scored three or more goals in 7 of their last 9 matches in the Europa League, including this season’s qualifying rounds.

11. New ‘keeper, same result

(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Bernd Leno made his Arsenal debut as the Gunners thrashed Vorskla Poltava at Emirates.

And, while it was a comfortable win for the north Londoners, the German stopper will be frustrated that he wasn’t able to hold on to a clean sheet in the game.

What that Vladimir Chesnakov goal now means is that Arsenal have now kept just 7 clean sheets in their 35 matches across all competitions in 2018.

12. Celtic end an unwanted record

Leigh Griffiths popped up with a late goal to give Celtic a valuable 1-0 over Norwegian side Rosenborg after a very frustrating performance at Parkhead.

However, the three points are all that matter and, in the process of winning, Celtic rid themselves of an unfavourable record.

The Hoops have now ended a run of 14 opening group stage games without a win in European competition – something for Brendan’s Bhoys to build on.

The post 12 things you may have missed from all 24 Europa League games appeared first on Squawka News.



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