Thursday’s Europa League group phase action featured Mainz’s clash against Saint-Etienne and Manchester United’s trip to Feyenoord. Schalke met a Nice side which features Mario Balotelli.
Nice 0-1 Schalke
(Rahman 75’)
Abdul Baba Rahman scored his first goal since joining Schalke on loan as the Bundesliga club edged out Nice, coached by former Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Lucien Favre, on the French Riveira.
A scrappy first half was followed by a tight second as Nice looked to protect their record of having never lost a home UEFA Cup or Europa League match.
But that record went as Schalke substitute Max Meyer unlocked the Nice defence with a clever reverse pass, allowing Rahman, on loan from Chelsea, to rifle in a low shot inside the near post.
Mainz 1-1 St Etienne
(Bungert 57’ – Beric 88’)
Mainz were held to a 1-1 draw by French side St Etienne, who grabbed an 88th minute equalizer.
Coming off the back of their hugely deflating 4-4 draw with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga at the weekend, Mainz looked to make amends on their Europa League debut.
Things were going to plan when Bungert nodded in the opener just before the hour to give the Germans the lead, but with time running out, St Etienne’s Beric restored parity.
The result means St Etienne have won only three of 18 matches against German opposition.
Feyenoord 1-0 Manchester United
(Vilhena 79’)
Europa League favourites Manchester United suffered an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at Feyenoord, with Tony Vilhena firing the Dutch club to a famous win.
Despite making eight changes, Jose Mourinho fielded a strong team that included Paul Pogba, David de Gea and Marcus Rashford, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic introduced as a second half substitute.
But the most expensive team in club football couldn’t avoid a second defeat in a week following a painful defeat by bitter rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Careless in possession and lacking a cutting edge up front, United paid for their lethargic display in the 79th minute.
Exposed down the right flank by a Nicolai Jorgensen’s run that beat the offside trap, United’s defenders were noticeable by their absence when the unmarked Vilhena swept home from just inside the penalty area.
Other Europa League results:
Qarabag 2-2 Liberec
Zorya 1-1 Fenerbahce
APOEL 2-1 Astana
Anderlecht 3-1 Gabala
Maccabi Tel-Aviv 3-4 Zenit
Astra 2-3 Austria Vienna
Sassuolo 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
Young Boys 0-1 Olympiacos
AZ 1-1 Dundalk
Plzen 1-1 Roma
Rapid Vienna 3-2 Genk
