If you thought European weeknight football was just a quiet affair, matchday five of the UEFA Europa League was here to prove you wrong. It was a night packed with everything we love about the beautiful game: landslide victories, unbelievable goals, individual brilliance, and a whole lot of drama. From Lyon putting on a goal-scoring clinic to a match that felt more like a battlefield, there was no shortage of action. Let’s dive into what went down.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Lyon absolutely dismantled Maccabi Tel Aviv with a massive 6-0 victory, storming to the top of the league phase.
- ✓ Corentin Tolisso was the man of the hour, scoring the first hat-trick of his career and netting OL's 500th European goal.
- ✓ Real Betis edged out Utrecht 2-1 in a chaotic match filled with injuries and a breathtaking goal from midfield.
- ✓ Ludogorets' Petar Stanic single-handedly defeated Celta Vigo with a stunning hat-trick of his own in a 3-2 thriller.
- ✓ Nottingham Forest continued their impressive resurgence, securing their third straight win with a 3-0 victory over Malmö.
Lyon's Onslaught and Tolisso's Historic Night
Let's start with the biggest statement of the night. Lyon traveled to Serbia to face Maccabi Tel Aviv and simply steamrolled them. We're talking about a complete and utter 6-0 thrashing that sent a clear message to the rest of the competition. The French side now sits pretty at the top of the league phase with 12 points, leapfrogging Midtjylland and Aston Villa thanks to a hefty goal difference.
The floodgates opened almost immediately, with Brazilian full-back Abner Vinicius finding the net just four minutes into the match. From there, it was all Lyon. Niakhaté added another at the 35-minute mark, and Karabec chipped in after the hour mark. But the real story, the one everyone is talking about, was the performance of their captain, Corentin Tolisso. He was simply on another level.
Tolisso delivered what can only be described as a classic "poacher's hat-trick." He was in the right place at the right time, again and again. His first came at 21 minutes, and he added two more in quick succession in the second half (51' and 54'). His goals were a masterclass in movement: two powerful headers at the far post and a sharp close-range finish. It wasn't just a great performance; it was a historic one. This was the first hat-trick of his entire career, and to top it off, one of his goals marked Lyon's 500th in European competition. What a night for the skipper and his team.
Chaos in Seville: A Wild Ride for Betis
While Lyon's match was a showcase of dominance, the clash between Real Betis and Utrecht was pure, unadulterated chaos. The game was described as being filled with "worrying and bizarre moments," and that's putting it mildly. The drama started less than two minutes in when Betis teammates Isco and Amrabat went for the same ball and collided, forcing both to be substituted immediately. This sent a wave of panic through the home fans, especially concerning Isco.
You see, the 33-year-old Spanish midfielder was playing in only his second match of the season after recovering from a serious injury, so seeing him go down again was heartbreaking. Thankfully, the initial assessment pointed to a "severe contusion," but it was a scary moment. The strange "friendly fire" incidents didn't stop there. Later in the first half, Utrecht's goalkeeper Brouwer collided hard with his own defender, El Karouani, forcing the Moroccan player off the field as well.
Amidst the chaos, there was some actual football played. Cucho Hernández put Betis ahead in the first half off an Antony assist, and Ezzalzouli doubled their lead to 2-0 early in the second. But then came the moment of the match, maybe the moment of the entire matchday. Just five minutes later, Utrecht’s Miguel Rodriguez unleashed an absolute screamer from midfield, catching the keeper off his line and pulling one back for the Dutch side. It was a stunning goal that left everyone speechless. Utrecht even thought they’d found an equalizer, but it was correctly ruled offside. The game became incredibly open and "dangerous" for Betis, but they managed to hang on for the three points, moving them to fifth place with 11 points.
Forest's Revival and Other Key Clashes
Over in England, Nottingham Forest kept their fantastic run of form going with a convincing 3-0 win against Malmö. For the history buffs out there, this was a rematch of the iconic 1978/1979 Champions League final, and just like back then, Forest came out on top. This was their third consecutive win, a testament to their resurgence this season.
Captain Yates got the party started with a first-time finish at 27 minutes. He was almost in again just before halftime, but while goalkeeper Ellborg denied him, the rebound fell perfectly for Kalimuendo to tap in and double the lead. Milenkovic sealed the deal with a third goal in the second half, pushing Forest up to 16th place with eight points. Meanwhile, Stuttgart also had a comfortable evening, cruising to a 4-0 win in the Netherlands against Go Ahead Eagles, with Lewwlling bagging a first-half brace.
Things were a bit more tense in Scotland, where a struggling Rangers hosted Braga. The home side, in the midst of a crisis, couldn't find a win but did manage to finally get their first point of the campaign in a 1-1 draw. Tavernier converted a penalty early in the second half to give them the lead. Even after the Portuguese side went down to ten men with Salazar's red card, they found an equalizer through Gabri Martinez. It was a small step for Rangers, moving them up to 33rd place, while Braga sits comfortably in seventh with ten points.
The Night's Other Standout Stars
While Tolisso stole most of the headlines, he wasn't the only player to put in a world-class performance. Over in France, Lille put on a superb show against Dinamo Zagreb, winning 4-0, and the most prominent player on the pitch was undoubtedly Hakon Haraldsson. The Icelandic international was everywhere, demonstrating immense activity and delivering two fantastic assists for Felix Correia and Hamza Igamane. He was so close to getting a goal himself, only to be denied by a great save.
And then there was the hero of Ludogorets, Petar Stanic. Facing a tough Celta Vigo side, the Serbian striker was simply unstoppable. He scored a magnificent hat-trick to lead his team to a thrilling 3-2 victory. Two of his goals came from the penalty spot, but he was clinical all night. His performance secured only the second win of the season for his team in the Europa League and, more importantly, keeps their hopes of qualifying for the next round very much alive. It was a truly clutch performance when his team needed it most.
Conclusion
What a whirlwind of a night in the Europa League. Matchday five delivered on all fronts, reminding us why we love this competition. We witnessed historic feats like Corentin Tolisso's first career hat-trick, moments of pure magic like that goal from midfield, and the kind of chaotic drama in the Betis match that you just can't script. It was a night of dominant displays, hard-fought points, and individual brilliance that has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the league phase.
