Key events
This is a Europa League blog, but this is what is happening in the Conference League tonight. In the early kick-offs, Aberdeen are getting a pasting at AEK Athens and Shelbourne are involved in a goalless draw in North Macedonia.
Crystal Palace face Cypriot side AEK Larnaca at Selhurst Park later on. The Lincoln Red Imps play Lech Poznan and Shamrock Rovers host Slovenian side Celje.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa have been pegged back to 1-1 by Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles after Evann Guessand scored his first goal for Unai Emery’s side, capitalising on a rebound after some very questionable goalkeeping from Jari De Busser, who failed to snaffle a Jadon Sancho cross.
Go Ahead Eagles equalised through a deflected strike from Mathis Suray after a clever set-piece play.
Half-time scores from the early kick-offs
Appointed only on Monday, this is Danny Röhl’s first game in charge of Rangers, who are 1-0 down at half-time to Norwegian side Brann. Emil Kornvig scored a tap-in at teh back post after a deflected cross.
Not a great start for the German manager, although there is 45 minutes for Rangers to rectify things. Here is some background to Röhl’s appointment this week, courtesy of Ewan Murray.
Preamble
Breaking to your loved ones that a third consecutive night of continental football is beckoning – when there are chores to do, Celebrity Traitors to watch and children to put to bed – but the Europa League isn’t going to watch itself, and where else would you get written updates on Braga v Red Star Belgrade?*
*I am attempting to cover a total of 18 matches of football with just two typing hands, so please be kind if I miss the odd goal.
The Europa League may have been usurped in the hipster stakes by the Conference League but it remains arguably the most interesting European club competition, from which the eventual victors could come from all over the continent.
We join the evening at the mid-way point in the early 5.45pm BST kick off – we’ll bring you the half-time scores from those imminently – before gearing up for the 8pm BST kick-offs, which are below.
Let’s get it!
