Ruben Amorim celebrated a thrilling win in his first home game as Manchester United’s manager, while Rangers excelled on French soil. However, Tottenham Hotspur faced late disappointment in the UEFA Europa League.
Here’s a recap of the Matchday 5 highlights.
Table of Contents
Europa League 2024-25 Matchday 5 Round-up
Højlund’s Brace Seals Amorim’s Home Debut Win
Manchester United 3-2 Bodø/Glimt
Ruben Amorim marked his first game at Old Trafford with a dramatic victory, thanks to two close-range goals from Rasmus Højlund.
Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring in under a minute, but Bodø/Glimt responded with thunderous strikes from Håkon Evjen and Philip Zinckernagel to take the lead. Højlund’s goals on either side of half-time secured Manchester United’s second win in the league stage.
Hummels Denies Spurs a Last-Minute Victory
Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Roma
A stoppage-time goal from Mats Hummels rescued a draw for Roma in a thrilling encounter in north London. Heung-Min Son put Tottenham ahead early with a clinical penalty, but Evan N’Dicka equalized by heading in Paulo Dybala’s precise free-kick.
Brennan Johnson restored Spurs’ lead with a well-executed team goal, only for Hummels to snatch a late equalizer from close range in added time.
Rangers Dominate Nice with a Resounding Victory
Nice 1-4 Rangers
Rangers delivered a commanding performance in France, starting with Vaclav Černý’s precise low strike. Mohamed Diomande doubled the lead by slipping between Nice defender Rosario and goalkeeper Marcin Bułka to chip in a classy second.
Hamza Igamane capitalized on a defensive error to make it 3-0 before halftime. On his first Europa League start, Igamane added a stunning fourth with a curling effort, while 19-year-old Badredine Bouanani scored a late consolation for Nice with a superb free-kick.
Highlights from the Rest of the Action
The league phase’s final perfect record came to an end as Lazio played out a goalless draw against Ludogorets. The Bulgarian visitors showcased steadfast defense in Rome but were fortunate as Matteo Guendouzi’s brilliant strike rattled the crossbar. Lazio now shares the top spot in the rankings with 13 points, alongside Athletic Club and Frankfurt. Athletic secured a commanding 3-0 win over Sweden’s Elfsborg, while Frankfurt edged past Midtjylland 2-1 in Denmark.
In another standout moment, Edin Džeko climbed to joint-eighth in UEFA club competition’s all-time goal-scorers list. The 38-year-old netted in Fenerbahce’s 2-1 triumph over Slavia Praha, tying with former teammate Sergio Agüero at 63 goals.
Exciting Clashes Await on Matchday 6 from December
The final round of the UEFA Europa League group stage promises thrilling encounters as teams battle for qualification and top spots. Key fixtures include Fenerbahçe hosting Athletic Club in a clash of group leaders, while Roma faces Braga in a crucial showdown. Manchester United travels to Viktoria Plzeň aiming to secure momentum under Ruben Amorim, and Tottenham Hotspur meets Rangers in what could be a decisive test for both teams.
Elsewhere, Ajax takes on Lazio in a high-stakes encounter, Lyon hosts Frankfurt in a pivotal match, and Real Sociedad welcomes Dynamo Kyiv. With teams fighting for survival, qualification, and group supremacy, Matchday 6 is set to deliver drama and excitement across Europe.
Wednesday 11 December
- Fenerbahçe vs Athletic Club
Thursday 12 December
- Roma vs Braga
- Viktoria Plzeň vs Manchester United
- Malmö vs Galatasaray
- Olympiacos vs Twente
- PAOK vs Ferencváros
- Ludogorets vs AZ Alkmaar
- Union SG vs Nice
- Hoffenheim vs FCSB
- Ajax vs Lazio
- Porto vs Midtjylland
- Bodø/Glimt vs Beşiktaş
- Elfsborg vs Qarabağ
- Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs RFS
- Lyon vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- Rangers vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Real Sociedad vs Dynamo Kyiv
- Slavia Praha vs Anderlecht
Read More: Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga Sidelined for 3 Weeks: Los Blancos Faces Midfield Crisis
FAQs
Which team ended Lazio’s 100% league phase record?
Lazio’s perfect start ended with a 0-0 draw against Ludogorets, who defended resolutely in Rome.
Who scored twice for Manchester United in their 3-2 win over Bodø/Glimt?
Rasmus Højlund netted a brace to secure Manchester United’s victory at Old Trafford.
What was the standout moment for Edin Džeko on Matchday 5?
Edin Džeko became joint-eighth in UEFA club competition’s all-time goal-scorers list, tying Sergio Agüero with 63 goals.
Which key Matchday 6 fixture will feature Rangers?
Rangers will face Tottenham Hotspur in a crucial match to conclude the group stage.
