Europa League: Roma cruise past Servette as Marseille left frustrated

An English comeback at Marseille

Things are still not going right for Olympique de Marseille. After two successive league defeats (against PSG 4-0 and Monaco 3-2), the Phocéen side were held at home by Brighton on matchday 2 of the Europa League. It was a bitter draw, all the more so because OM had taken the lead with 2 goals in the first half. Two goals in one minute. Chancel Mbemba opened the scoring in the 19th minute and Jordan Veretout doubled the lead a minute later (20th). That put the Olympiens in a healthy position.

After the break, Marseille went through a very difficult spell. Brighton pulled one back in the 54th minute through their German midfielder, Pascal Groß. Unplayable down the Marseille right, Mitoma burst into the box and picked out the German with a perfect cut-back, leaving him only to side-foot home. Under pressure, the French side gave away a penalty to the visitors late on (88th). João Pedro converted it perfectly. OM thus pick up a second draw in two games in the competition. AEK Athens (4 pts) go top of the group after their draw with Ajax Amsterdam (1-1). Marseille are 2nd with two points.

Also read: Mohamed Elneny back in the national squad

Roma show their strength

The Romans cruised past Servette on matchday 2 of the Europa League. José Mourinho's side won comfortably against Servette (4-0). Romelu Lukaku got things under way in the 21st minute. The score stayed the same until half-time. In the second half, the Roman machine clicked into gear. The Italians scored 3 goals in 13 minutes. Andrea Belotti claimed a brace (46th and 59th) while Lorenzo Pellegrini scored his first goal in the competition this season. With 6 points, Roma are 2nd in Group G, behind Slavia Prague on goal difference after they thrashed Sheriff Tiraspol (6-0). The two teams meet on matchday 3 on 9 November.

Liverpool-Union SaintGilloise: Reds under pressure until the end

Liverpool had a scare but got the job done against Union Saint-Gilloise (2-0). With a heavily rotated side, the Reds made a flying start. They created several big chances. Mohamed Salah first missed a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Then Darwin Nunez completely fluffed his effort from a cut-back in front of an empty net; the goalkeeper was beaten. Liverpool eventually turned to a midfielder to break the deadlock. Signed this summer from Bayern Munich, Ryan Gravenberch pounced on a ball spilled by the opposition goalkeeper after a shot from Trent Alexander-Arnold (44th). The goal came at just the right time. In the second half, Jürgen Kloop made changes. Mo Salah made way for Curtis Jones and Wataru Endō was replaced by Alexis Mac Allister. The Reds, despite looking composed, had some anxious moments in this second half. The Belgians created several chances to equalise. But as ever, the big sides know how to manage this kind of game. The Merseyside club got the goal that settled nerves in stoppage time (90+2). Diogo Jota was the man on hand. Liverpool go top of the table on their own (6 points).

Matchday 2 in the books ✅

How did your team get on?#UEL pic.twitter.com/xK4mk0bRpt

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) October 5, 2023