The second matchday of the Europa League 2024/25 season delivered high-octane action as Manchester United battled to a dramatic 3-3 draw with Porto, Tottenham secured a hard-fought victory over Ferencváros, and Latvian underdogs RFS shocked Galatasaray with a resilient comeback. Here’s a complete round-up of the night’s standout performances and surprising results.

Europa League 2024/25: Matchday 2 Highlights and Round-up

Manchester United Secure Late Equaliser in Six-Goal Thriller Against Porto

Porto and Manchester United delivered one of the most enthralling encounters of the Europa League so far, playing out a 3-3 draw that was nothing short of a spectacle. Manchester United began the game in electric fashion, racing to a 2-0 lead within the first half-hour. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with a sublime finish, followed by Rasmus Højlund, who doubled the advantage with a well-taken goal.

However, Porto quickly responded, pulling one back through Pepê, who capitalized on a saved shot from Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana. Just before the break, Samu rose high to nod in an equaliser, making it 2-2 at halftime.

The momentum swung in Porto’s favour when Samu added his second of the night with a thunderous strike into the roof of the net, putting the hosts ahead. Manchester United’s situation worsened as Bruno Fernandes saw red, leaving the Red Devils down to ten men. Despite the disadvantage, Harry Maguire found a way to rescue a point deep into stoppage time. His towering header from a Christian Eriksen corner salvaged a 3-3 draw, ensuring Manchester United left Portugal with a valuable point in what was a breathtaking contest.

Tottenham Triumph in Budapest: Sarr and Johnson Shine

Tottenham Hotspur extended their winning streak with a 2-1 victory over Hungarian side Ferencváros, maintaining their perfect start to the Europa League campaign. Pape Sarr was the catalyst for Spurs, latching onto a loose ball to score the opening goal midway through the first half. His well-placed strike gave Tottenham a deserved lead.

Brennan Johnson continued his red-hot form by scoring for the fifth consecutive game, coming off the bench to double Spurs’ lead. The Welsh international’s clinical finish gave Tottenham some breathing room, but Barnabás Varga’s sensational volley for Ferencváros threatened to make things difficult for the Premier League outfit. However, Ange Postecoglou’s side held their nerve in the closing stages to secure all three points, further solidifying their strong start in Europe.

RFS Stun Galatasaray with Remarkable Comeback

Latvian club RFS made history by earning their first-ever Europa League point in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Turkish giants Galatasaray. The visitors took a commanding 2-0 lead inside 38 minutes, thanks to goals from Dries Mertens and Yunus Akgün. At this point, it appeared Galatasaray would cruise to victory.

However, RFS had other plans. Jānis Ikaunieks pulled one back just before halftime, igniting hopes of a comeback. Lasha Odisharia then stunned the Turkish side by equalizing in the 55th minute. RFS defended heroically for the remainder of the match, with goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa making several key saves to deny Galatasaray. The result will go down as one of the most memorable nights in the club’s history.

Best of the Rest: Elfsborg Shock Roma, Lyon Run Riot, Olympiacos Dominate

The surprises didn’t end with the big names. Swedish side Elfsborg pulled off a major upset, defeating Serie A giants Roma 1-0. A first-half penalty from Michael Baidoo proved to be the difference as Elfsborg held on for an impressive victory.

Elsewhere, Olympique Lyonnais ran rampant at Rangers, securing a 4-1 win thanks to a brace apiece from Malick Fofana and Alexandre Lacazette. Lyon’s attacking prowess overwhelmed the Scottish side, as they claimed an emphatic victory on the road.

In Greece, Olympiacos made light work of Braga, securing a dominant 3-0 victory. Ayoub El Kaabi, last season’s top scorer in the Europa Conference League, bagged a brace, reaffirming his knack for finding the back of the net in European competitions. Olympiacos were simply too strong for Braga, as the Greek side continues to impress in Europe.

Exciting Matchday 3 Fixtures Await

With Matchday 2 wrapped up, attention now turns to the upcoming fixtures in Matchday 3, which promises more high-stakes football.

Wednesday, 23 October

• Galatasaray vs Elfsborg – 20:00
• Braga vs Bodø/Glimt – 20:00

Thursday, 24 October

• Roma vs Dynamo Kyiv – 22:15
• Eintracht Frankfurt vs RFS – 22:15
• Midtjylland vs Union SG – 22:15
• Ferencváros vs Nice – 22:15
• Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Real Sociedad – 22:15
• PAOK vs Viktoria Plzeň – 22:15
• Qarabağ vs Ajax – 22:15
• Roma vs Dynamo Kyiv – 22:15

Friday, 25 October

• Athletic Club vs Slavia Praha – 00:30
• Porto vs Hoffenheim – 00:30
• Twente vs Lazio – 00:30
• Fenerbahçe vs Manchester United – 00:30
• Malmö vs Olympiacos – 00:30
• Lyon vs Beşiktaş – 00:30
• Rangers vs FCSB – 00:30
• Anderlecht vs Ludogorets – 00:30
• Tottenham Hotspur vs AZ Alkmaar – 00:30

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