Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barry Glendenning (now) and Scott Murray (earlier)

Celtic v Bodø/Glimt, Leicester v Randers: Europa Conference League – as it happened

Bodo/Glimt's Amahl Pellegrino scores their second goal.
Bodo/Glimt's Amahl Pellegrino scores their second goal. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters

Match report: Celtic 1-3 Bodo/Glimt

Europa Conference League: Celtic slumped to an embarrassing home defeat to the Norwegian champions as Ange Postecoglu’s men had a collective shocker.

Match report: Leicester City 4-1 Randers

Europa Conference League: Leicester teetered and could have slumped to another disappointing result in a season of stutters but instead rallied and took a big step towards the last 16, writes Paul Doyle from the King Power Stadium.

Women's football: England 1-1 Canada

Arnold Clark Cup: Millie Bright broke the deadlock with a stunning first-half strike but Janine Beckie restored parity for the Canadians. Louise Taylor reports from the Riverside Stadium.

Europa League results

  • Barcelona 1-1 Napoli
  • Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Rangers
  • Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 Sporting Braga
  • Zenit St Petersburg 2-3 Real Betis
  • Atalanta 2-1 Olympiacos
  • RB Leipzig 2-2 Real Sociedad
  • Porto 2-1 Lazio
  • Sevilla 3-1 Dinamo Zagreb

Europa Conference League results

  • Midtjylland 1-0 PAOK
  • Fenerbahce 2-3 Slavia Prague
  • PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Maccabi Tel-Aviv
  • Rapid Vienna 2-1 Vitesse
  • Celtic 1-3 Bodo/Glimt
  • Leicester City 4-1 Randers
  • Marseille 3-1 Qarabag
  • Sparta Prague 0-1 Partizan Belgrade

Full-time: Leicester City 4-1 Randers

Europa Conference League: Leicester City survived an early scare to run out easy winners against their Danish visitors.

Full-time: Celtic 1-3 Bodo/Glimt

Europa Conference League: Boos ring out around Celtic Park as the Scottish league leaders suffer an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

Bodo/Glimt’s Amahl Pellegrino celebrates with a corner flag after the match.
Bodo/Glimt’s Amahl Pellegrino celebrates with a corner flag. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Updated

Europa League: RB Leipzig have a goal disallowed for offside in their game against Real Sociedad and the scoreline remains all square at two goals apiece.

Europa League: Trailing 2-1 at home to Real Sociedad, RB Leipzig make it all square through an Emil Forsburg penalty.

GOAL! Celtic 1-3 Bodo/Glimt

ECL: Crikey! Straight from the kick-off, Bodo/Glimt restore their two-goal lead. Hugo Vetlesen’s shot from distance takes a massive deflection off Callum McGregor and loops past the hopelessly wrongfooted Joe Hart.

Bodo/Glimt’s Hugo Vetlesen celebrates scoring their third goal.
Bodo/Glimt’s Hugo Vetlesen celebrates scoring their third goal. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters
Celtic’s Jota reacts after conceding their third goal scored by Bodo/Glimt’s Hugo Vetlesen.
Whilst Celtic’s Jota and his team-mates look rather dejected. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Celtic 1-2 Bodo/Glimt

ECL: Celtic pull a goal back in Glasgow, with Daizen Maeda scoring with a fine skimmed header from an excellent Josip Juranovic cross.

Daizen Maeda uses his head to get Celtic back in to the game.
Daizen Maeda (centre) uses his head to get Celtic back in to the game. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Leicester City 4-1 Randers

ECL: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall arrives late in the Randers penalty area to convert a pull-back from Admola Lookman and increase Leicester’s lead.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sticks the ball home for the Foxes’ fourth.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sticks the ball home for the Foxes’ fourth. Photograph: Craig Brough/Reuters
Leicester City’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (centre) celebrates with Ademola Lookman after scoring their side’s fourth goal.
Then goes over to thank Ademola Lookman for the assist. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Updated

Europa League: Albania international Berat Djimsiti scores his second of the evening, firing through a crowded penalty area into the bottom corner to put Atalanta 2-1 ahead against Olympicaos.

Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti cracks the ball home to put the home side 2-1 up.
Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti cracks the ball home to put the home side 2-1 up. Photograph: Paolo Magni/EPA

Updated

Europa League: Real Sociedad go 2-1 up against RB Leipzig in Germany courtesy of a spot-kick from Mikel Oyarzabal.

Europa League: Atalanta make it 1-1 against Olympiacos in Bergamo courtesy of a Berat Djimsiti near post flick from a corner.

Berat Djimsiti (centre) heads home Atalanta’s equaliser.
Berat Djimsiti (centre) heads home Atalanta’s equaliser. Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

ECL: Ademola Lookman goes close to extending Leicester’s lead but is denied by Randers goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren, who performs a passable Peter Schemeichel-esque starfish impression to deny him.

GOAL! Celtic 0-2 Bodo/Glimt

ECL: A great night for Rangers gets even better as Bodo/Glimt’s Amahl Pellegrino converts from the edge of the six-yard box after good work down the right from Ola Solbakken.

Bodo/Glimt’s Amahl Pellegrino celebrates scoring their second goal.
Bodo/Glimt’s Amahl Pellegrino celebrates scoring their second goal. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Leicester City 3-1 Randers

ECL: Patson Daka scores from five yards out after Randers goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren fails to hold on to a Youri Tielemans drive. It looked offside but there’s no VAR in the Europa Conference League so he gets away with it.

Patson Daka of Leicester City scores the Foxes’ third goal.
Patson Daka of Leicester City scores the Foxes’ third goal. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock

Updated

Europa League: From 1-0 down to 2-1 up, Porto lead against Lazio in Portugal. Toni Martinez sweeps home his second of the night having failed to find the target before this evening since October.

GOAL! Leicester City 2-1 Randers

ECL: Following a mix-up in the Randers defence, Harvey Barnes swivels to shoot on the turn and put Leicester City ahead at the King Power Stadium. It’s a scrappy goal but they all count.

Harvey Barnes of Leicester City scores his side’s second goal.
Harvey Barnes of Leicester City scores his side’s second goal. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock

Updated

Arnold Clark Cup: Wearing her metaphorical Canada hat this evening, Manchester City’s Janine Beckie has equalised against England at the Riverside. Follow the action with Sarah Rendell.

Europa Conference League half-times

  • Celtic 0-1 Bodo/Glimt
  • Leicester City 1-1 Randers
  • Marseille 2-0 Qarabag
  • Sparta Prague 0-0 Partizan Belgrade

Europa League half-times

  • Atalanta 0-1 Olympiacos
  • RB Leipzig 1-1 Real Sociedad
  • Porto 1-1 Lazio
  • Sevilla 3-1 Dinamo Zagreb

Europa League: Sevilla score two goals in quick succession to lead 3-1 against Dinamo Zagreb on the stroke of half-time in Spain. Lucas Ocampos and Anthony Martial with the goals there. The former Manchester United man nutmegged two defenders with his low diagonal shot into the bottom corner to round off a fine counter-attack.

GOAL! Leicester City 1-1 Randers

ECL: Marc Albrighton slips out on the left wing and allows Vito Mistrati to get the run on him and play a give-and-go with a team-mate before advancing into the Leicester penalty area and sending a shot past Kasper Schmeichel. It’s all square at the King Power moments before half-time.

Randers’ Vito Mistrati puts the visitors back on level terms.
Randers’ Vito Mistrati puts the visitors back on level terms. Photograph: Craig Brough/Reuters
Vito Mistrati (left) celebrates with Tosin Kehinde after getting Randers back on level terms.
Mistrati (left) celebrates with Tosin Kehinde. Photograph: Rui Vieira/AP
Leicester City’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall appears dejected after Randers score their first goal.
Whilst Leicester City’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall looks dejected. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Updated

Europa League: Dinamo Zagreb equalise against Sevilla in Spain, chesting down a cross from wide on the right, cutting into the penalty area and lashing home. It’s 1-1 in Seville.

ECL: Marseille’s Arkadiusz Milik scores from close ranfge on the follow-up after his own thumping header was blocked on the line. His side lead Azerbaijani side Qarabag by the only goal of the game so far.

Marseille’s Arkadiusz Milik (left) heads goalwards.
Marseille’s Arkadiusz Milik (left) heads goalwards. Photograph: Nicolas Tucat/AFP/Getty Images
Marseille’s forward Arkadiusz Milik shoots and scores.
And then follows up to bash the ball home. Photograph: Nicolas Tucat/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

Europa League: Toni Martinez, formerly of Oxford United, equalises for Porto against Lazio with a bullet header from 13 yards out. It’s 1-1 in Portugal.

Match report: Barcelona 1-1 Napoli

Europa League: Ferran Torres scored the penalty that levelled things after Piotr Zielinski gave Napoli the lead, but he above all will reflect on the ones that got away on a night when Barcelona and Napoli were playing for a place in a competition that they aspire to avoid, writes Sid Lowe from the Camp Nou.

Europa League: It’s RB Leipzig 1-1 Real Sociedad in Germany, with Angelino converting a cross from the left to equalise for the German side, leaning over to power home a downward header.

Match report: Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Rangers

Europa League: The Rangers contingent inside Signal Iduna Park not only – and quite rightly – partied but realised this was an extraordinary occasion as will be spoken about for some time, writes Ewan Murray from Signal Iduna Park.

Updated

Europa League: Awful defending from Porto allows Mattia Zaccagni to convert a Luis Alberto cross from a couple of yards out to give Lazio a 1-0 lead in Portugal.

GOAL! Leicester City 1-0 Randers

Europa Conference League: Wilfred Ndidi has sidefooted Leicester CIty ahead from a tight-ish angle at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi scores their first goal.
Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi shoots ... Photograph: Craig Brough/Reuters
Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi scores their first goal.
Scores ... Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi celebrates after scoring their first goal.
Then celebrates. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

Arnold Clark Cup: It’s England 1-0 Canada at half-time at the Riverside, the Lionesses ahead courtesy of a fine Millie Bright strike. Sarah Rendall has the latest.

Europa League: Tiquinho Soares has just fired Olympiacos ahead against Atalanta in Bergamo with a low, curling drive from outside the penalty area. It’s a fine strike.

Olympiacos’ Tiquinho Soares opens the scoring in style.
Olympiacos’ Tiquinho Soares opens the scoring in style. Photograph: Daniele Mascolo/Reuters

Updated

Europa League: Sevilla are a goal up against Dinamo Zagreb in Spain, with Ivan Rakitic scoring from the penalty spot.

ECL - Leicester 0-0 Randers: Patson Daka has just missed two good chances in quick succession for Leicester, firing over when he should have converted a cross from Youri Tielemans, then being bested in a one-on-one with Randers goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren after taking a heavy touch as he latched on to a weighted pass from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Patson Daka of Leicester City reacts after a missed chance.
Patson Daka of Leicester City reacts after a missed chance. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Updated

Europa League: Real Sociedad have taken an early lead against RB Leipzig in Germany thanks to a deflected shot from Robin Le Normand.

GOAL! Celtic 0-1 Bodo/Glimt

Europa Conference League: Rangers fans advance further into “dreamland” as Bodo/Glimt take the lead against Celtic in Glasgow. Runar Espejord does the honours for the Norwegian side, firing into the bottom left-hand corner after a neat Bodo/Glimt passing move on the edge of the Celtic penalty area.

Bodo/Glimt’s Runar Espejord scores their first goal.
Bodo/Glimt’s Runar Espejord slots the ball past Joe Hart to give the visitors the lead. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters
Bodo/Glimt’s Runar Espejord celebrates scoring their first goal with team-mates.
Espejord celebrates scoring their first goal ... Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters
The visiting Bodo/Glimt fans celebrate their side taking the lead.
As do the visiting Bodo/Glimt fans. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Updated

ECL – Celtic 0-0 Bodo Glimt: Early pressure from the hosts at Celtic Park in the Europa Conference League, where Bodo/Glimt left-back Brice Wembangomo is forced to hack a low, drilled Tom Rogic cross clear of his own goal.

Greetings one and all. Leicester City and Celtic are the UK representatives in tonight’s Europa Conference League ties, taking on Danish side Randers and Norwegian outfit Bodo Glimt respectively.

England’s Lionesses are in action too, playing Canada at the Riverside Stadium in the inaugural four-team (Germany and Spaoin in the others) Arnold Clark Cup, so we’ll be keeping tabs on that too. England are already a goal up after 30 minutes or so, courtesy of a fine Millie Bright hooked volley over her own shoulder.

Some result for Rangers, though they’ll be cursing the abolition of the old away-goals rule. Still, they’re in the box seat ahead of next week’s second leg at Ibrox. Meanwhile Barcelona had much the better of the second half in the Maradona Derby against Napoli, but could only level things up with a penalty awarded for the softest of handballs. Plenty for the 8pm kick-offs to live up to, then. Barry Glendenning will be your guide for those. Ta-ra.

Europa Conference League full times (5.45pm kick-offs)

  • Midtjylland 1-0 PAOK
  • Fenerbahce 2-3 Slavia Prague
  • PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Maccabi Tel-Aviv
  • Rapid Vienna 2-1 Vitesse

Europa League full times (5.45pm kick-offs)

  • Barcelona 1-1 Napoli
  • Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Rangers
  • Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 Sporting Braga
  • Zenit St Petersburg 2-3 Real Betis

FULL TIME: Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Rangers

What a result this is for the Glasgow Rangers! Erling Haaland, if he’s fit, will have his work cut out to save the tournament favourites at Ibrox.

Both sides are looking for a late winner at Camp Nou. Luuk de Jong nearly finds the top-left corner for Barca with an acrobatic bicycle kick; Napoli’s Dries Mertens fires a drive straight at Marc­-André ter Stegen when free, 12 yards out.

Barcelona’s Luuk de Jong attempts an overhead kick.
Barcelona’s Luuk de Jong attempts an overhead kick. Photograph: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

Yet another goal in the match between Fenerbahce and Slavia Prague ... and the hosts are back in the tie. Ferdi Kadıoğlu cuts in from the left and shoots from distance. His low shot is deflected into the bottom right, giving Prague keeper Aleš Mandous no chance. It’s 2-3.

At the Camp Nou, Pedri’s cute backflick on the penalty spot finds Ferran Torres free, just to his left. Torres leans back and blazes over. That could, and possibly should, have been the winner. It’s still 1-1 between Barca and Napoli.

GOAL! Sheriff 2-0 Braga (Traore 82). Bruno Rodrigues slips in the midfield with nobody around him, allowing Adama Traore (not that one) to tear clear and score. Shades of Gerry Young and Derek Temple in the 1966 FA Cup final. Two minutes in, if you fancy a look.

... and so now, suddenly, Dortmund are winning every 50-50 in midfield. Previous to that out-of-nothing lash, Rangers were coming at the hosts again and again on the break. Gio van Bronckhorst responds by sending on Aaron Ramsey and Glen Kamara.

GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Rangers (Guerreiro 82)

Many apologies to Rangers fans for tempting fate. Raphaël Guerreiro cuts in from the right and launches a preposterous whip into the top left from 25 yards. Allan McGregor had no chance whatsoever.

Borussia Dortmund’s Raphaël Guerreiro scores their second goal.
Borussia Dortmund’s Raphaël Guerreiro scores their second goal. Photograph: Thilo Schmülgen/Reuters

Updated

Rangers are looking extremely comfortable in Dortmund right now. The hosts look thoroughly dejected, and there are more gaps appearing in their defence. Rangers can’t quite get the combinations right to unlock them on the break.

That’s a strong Leicester side named by Brendan Rodgers tonight for the game against Randers of Denmark in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off. Just two changes from the side that drew with West Ham: Marc Albrighton and Jannik Vestergaard replacing the injured James Justin and rested Ricardo Pereira.

Two goals in a minute for Slavia Prague! Ondřej Lingr, a Cranberries earworm made flesh, follows up Oscar’s goal, and suddenly the visitors are 3-1 up over Fenerbahce. Meanwhile Loïs Openda has dragged Vitesse back into it in Vienna, Rapid now down to ten men after Filip Stojkovic’s second yellow card. It’s 2-1.

Ondřej Lingr celebrates after scoring Sparta Prague’s third goal.
Ondřej Lingr celebrates after scoring Sparta Prague’s third goal. Photograph: Alexander Scheuber/UEFA/Getty Images

Updated

Some 8pm team news

Celtic: Hart, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Taylor, O’Riley, McGregor, Rogic, Abada, Maeda, Jota.
Subs: Jullien, Scales, Bitton, Giakoumakis, McCarthy, Bain, Hatate, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh, Oluwayemi, Dembele.
Bodo/Glimt: Haikin, Sampsted, Moe, Hoibraten, Wembangomo, Vetlesen, Hagen, Saltnes, Solbakken, Espejord, Pellegrino.
Subs: Sery, Boniface, Konradsen, Fet, Kongsro, Nordas, Kvile, Smits, Mugisha, Koomson.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Albrighton, Vestergaard, Soyuncu, Amartey, Tielemans, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall, Lookman, Daka, Barnes.
Subs: Maddison, Ward, Iheanacho, Perez, Choudhury, Jakupovic, Soumare, Ewing.
Randers FC: Carlgren, Kallesoe, Graves Jensen, Piesinger, Kopplin, Kehinde, Johnsen, Lauenborg, Ankersen, Kamara, Hammershoj-Mistrati.
Subs: Mattais Andersson, Hugo Andersson, Tibbling, Enggard, Lauridsen, Klysner, Kristensen, Nybo, Dakir, Filip Bundgaard, Brock-Madsen.

Daler Kuzyaev has just rattled the crossbar for Zenit. One on one with the Real Betis keeper Rui Silva, he really should have done better. It’s still 3-2 to the side from Seville.

An equaliser for Fenerbahce against Slavia Prague in Istanbul. Dimitris Pelkas sweeps Ferdi Kadıoğlu’s low left-wing cross into the bottom right. It’s 1-1.

Dimitris Pelkas celebrates with team-mates after getting Fenerbahçe back on level terms.
Dimitris Pelkas celebrates with team-mates after getting Fenerbahçe back on level terms. Photograph: Alexander Scheuber/UEFA/Getty Images

Updated

A reminder that Rangers have been doing what they’re doing with Aaron Ramsey sat on the bench. We mention this because he’s been flapping his neck on the touchline, causing the referee to come over and give him some frank advice.

GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Napoli (Torres 59 pen). Ferran Torres gives Alex Meret the eyes, rolling his penalty into the left side of the net, the keeper falling the other way. That’s his first goal at his new home.

Ferran Torres (right) celebrates with team-mate Pedri after scoring from the penalty spot to get Barcelona back on level terms.
Ferran Torres (right) celebrates with team-mate Pedri after scoring from the penalty spot to get Barcelona back on level terms. Photograph: Eric Alonso/Getty Images

Updated

Penalty for Barcelona at Camp Nou! Adama Traoré dinks a cross in from the right. The ball brushes the fingertips of Juan Jesus. VAR intervenes, and the referee points to the penalty spot!

This is an astonishing game in Dortmund. It turns out the hapless Dan-­Axel Zagadou has been credited with an own goal, the ball having deflected off his boot en route. And indeed on second viewing, Morelos was crossing in the hope of finding Arfield in the middle. Not on target. Own goal it is.

Borussia Dortmund’s Dan-Axel Zagadou looks dejected after scoring an own goal.
Borussia Dortmund’s Dan-Axel Zagadou looks dejected after scoring an own goal. Photograph: Thilo Schmülgen/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-4 Rangers (Morelos 54)

The irrepressible Kent wins possession down the Rangers left and slips inside for Aribo, who shuttles down the channel for Morelos. He’s clear in the box! He’s facing a tight angle, but bobbles a shot across Kobel and into the bottom right. The flag goes up for offside, but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal stands!

Alfredo Morelos is congratulated after Rangers take a 4-1 lead.
Alfredo Morelos is congratulated after Rangers take a 4-1 lead. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

Updated

GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Rangers (Bellingham 51)

The hosts desperately needed something, and here it is! A ball rolls across the face of the Rangers box, right to left. Raphaël Guerreiro cushions a pass back to Jude Bellingham, on the edge of the D. Bellingham creams a shot into the bottom left, giving a slightly unsighted Allan McGregor no chance!

A fine finish from Jude Bellingham pulls a goal back for Borussia Dortmund.
A fine finish from Jude Bellingham pulls a goal back for Borussia Dortmund. Photograph: Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Updated

GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 0-3 Rangers (Lundstram 49)

This is shaping up to be one of the great European results for Rangers! Ryan Kent worms his way down the left and cuts back for John Lundstram, who sweeps into the bottom right from the edge of the box! Kent is borderline unplayable this evening, all jinks and dropped shoulders.

Rangers’ John Lundstram scores his side’s 3rd goal.
John Lundstram fires home Rangers’ third. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP
Rangers’ John Lundstram, left, celebrates after he scored his side’s 3rd goal.
Lundstram (left) celebrates his fine finish. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP
Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund reacts after Rangers score their third goal.
Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund reacts after the home side went further behind. Photograph: Martin Rose/Getty Images
Rangers’ John Lundstram celebrates scoring their third goal.
The travelling Rangers fans are rather overjoyed too. Photograph: Sascha Schuermann/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

The second halves are getting under way all across Europe. In Dortmund, the Borussia boss Marco Rose, presumably beyond irate, has made a double change, hooking Axel Witsel and Julian Brandt, sending on Youssoufa Moukoko and Gio van Bronckhorst’s namesake Gio Reyna in their stead.

Half-time entertainment. Well, well, well, doesn’t today’s Fiver look silly now? OK, even sillier than usual? Bet whoever wrote it feels a right eejit. Sign up now, for cast-iron guaranteed hopelessness on a daily basis!

Europa Conference League half-times

  • Midtjylland 1-0 PAOK
  • Fenerbahce 0-1 Slavia Prague
  • PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Maccabi Tel-Aviv
  • Rapid Vienna 2-0 Vitesse

Europa League half-times

  • Barcelona 0-1 Napoli
  • Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Rangers
  • Sheriff Tiraspol 1-0 Sporting Braga
  • Zenit St Petersburg 2-3 Real Betis

The one goalless game in the 5-45pm kick-offs finally delivers. Some ping-pong in the Fenerbahçe box, and Ibrahim Traoré slams home to give Slavia Prague the lead. Full half-time scores coming right up!

Slavia Praha’s Ibrahim Traoré (centre) sticks the ball home to open the scoring against Fenerbahçe.
Slavia Praha’s Ibrahim Traoré (centre) sticks the ball home to open the scoring against Fenerbahçe. Photograph: AP

Updated

HALF TIME: Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Rangers

Rangers have defended resolutely when required, and attacked with panache. They deserve to lead. The hosts are booed off by their own fans.

GOAL! Zenit 2-3 Betis (Guardado 43). The goals keep on coming in St Petersburg. Zenit keeper’s Mikhail Kerzhakov’s awful pass out gives Yaroslav Rakits’kyy no chance. Aitor Ruibal snaffles, then slips Andrés Guardado into the box. Guardado opens his body and whips into the top left.

Real Betis’ Andres Guardado scores their third goal.
Real Betis’ Andres Guardado fires the visitors back into the lead. Photograph: Anton Vaganov/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Sherriff 1-0 Braga (Thill 40 pen). Sébastien Thill slots a penalty given for handball, straight into the bottom right.

GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Rangers (Morelos 41)

This is sensational! James Tavernier whips in a corner from the right. Joe Aribo flicks on at the near post. Dortmund’s defence is all over the shop, and Alfredo Morelos is on point to trundle in from a couple of yards!

Alfredo Morelos sticks the ball home from close range to double Rangers’ lead.
Alfredo Morelos sticks the ball home from close range to double Rangers’ lead. Photograph: Kirk O’Rourke/Rangers FC/Shutterstock
Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos celebrates scoring his side’s second goal.
Morelos celebrates his goal with his team-mates. Photograph: Kirk O’Rourke/Rangers FC/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

Penny for Dan­-Axel Zagadou’s thoughts at the moment. He missed a header from close range up the other end, and now has been instrumental in his team falling behind.

GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Rangers (Tavernier 38 pen)

Gers captain James Tavernier takes a short run-up and whips a lovely spot kick into the right-hand side of the net, having sent Gregor Kobel the other way. A shock lead for the Scottish champions against the tournament favourites, and they thoroughly deserve it!

Rangers’ James Tavernier scores their first goal from the penalty spot.
Rangers’ James Tavernier steps up ... Photograph: Thilo Schmülgen/Reuters
Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel concedes is sent the wrong way by Rangers captain James Tavernier to give the visitors the lead.
And sends Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel the wrong way and the visitors have the lead. Photograph: Sascha Steinbach/EPA
Rangers’ James Tavernier celebrates scoring their first goal with Alfredo Morelos (right).
Tavernier celebrates his goal with Alfredo Morelos (right). Photograph: Thilo Schmülgen/Reuters

Updated

Penalty for Rangers!

A ball coming in from the right. Connor Goldson goes up to challenge. He can’t connect with a header. But no matter, because Dan­-Axel Zagadou was waving his arm in the air. Ball hits hand, and the referee points to the spot after being asked by VAR to go to the monitor.

Marco Reus, just to the right of the Rangers six-yard box, diddles Allan McGregor with a cute backheel across the face of goal. But with Jude Bellingham lurking, Borna Barišić deals with the problem on the line and clears. Rangers are holding their own in North Rhine-Westphalia. Still 0-0.

GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Napoli (Zieliński 29). Ferran Torres is sent into space down the middle, but lashes a wild shot wide right from the edge of the box. Napoli counter instantly. Piotr Zieliński one-twos with Eljif Elmas down the right channel, then has a blast at goal from just inside the box. Marc­-André ter Stegen parries bravely, but the ball cannons straight back to Zieliński, who roofs one past the keeper. There’s a VAR check for offside, but the goal stands.

Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski celebrates scoring their first goal as FC Barcelona’s Oscar Mingueza looks dejected.
Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski celebrates scoring their first goal as FC Barcelona’s Oscar Mingueza looks dejected. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters

Updated

GOAL! Zenit 2-2 Betis (Malcom 28). Zenit could easily have crumbled after going two down in short order, but they’re right back in it! Douglas Santos slips a ball in from the left for Wendel, who shuttles it immediately down the inside-left channel for Malcom, who draws Rui Silva and whips across the keeper and into the bottom right. What a thriller!

Zenit St Petersburg’s Malcom scores their second goal.
Zenit St Petersburg’s Malcom scores their second goal. Photograph: Anton Vaganov/Reuters

Updated

A great chance for Marco Reus against Rangers. Jude Bellingham works his way down the left and pulls across the face of goal. Reus can’t connect properly, and the opportunity is gone.

GOAL! Zenit 1-2 Betis (Dzyuba 25). In comes a Vyacheslav Karavaev cross from the right. Artem Dzyuba heads powerfully into the bottom left, and the hosts are back in it.

In the big game at Camp Nou, Victor Osimhen tears down the Napoli left, enters the box, and skelps towards the near post. Marc­-André ter Stegen does exceptionally well to block the shot. Barcelona counter, Adama Traoré sent free down the middle. He’s about to shoot when Kalidou Koulibaly slides in with a perfect tackle to deny him. Pierre-­Emerick Aubameyang latches onto the loose ball and tries to chip Alex Meret in the Napoli goal, but the keeper claims. Then the flag goes up for offside on Traore anyway. Still, what a minute of action in Catalonia.

Dan­-Axel Zagadou should give Dortmund the lead against Rangers ... but he inexplicably heads straight at Allan McGregor from six yards! Meanwhile in the Conference, Joel Andersson gives Midtjylland the lead at home against PAOK.

GOAL! Zenit 0-2 Betis (Willian José 18). Zenit ship possession in the middle of the park, allowing Willian José to romp away on the counter. Zenit don’t make a challenge, and he whistles a low drive into the bottom left. Not the greatest start by the 2008 champions.

Rapid have doubled their lead over Vitesse, Marco Grüll dribbling in from the left and slotting into the bottom-left corner. It could have been worse, too, keeper Jeroen Houwen dropping the ball on the edge of his area, Ferdy Druijf hoicking over the bar with the goal gaping.

In the Conference League, PSV have taken the lead over Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Cody Gakpo with the opener on 11 minutes. Noni Madueke nearly makes it 2-0 seconds later with a downward header, but Daniel Peretz performs an ersatz copy of Gordon Banks’ iconic denial of Pele. What a save!

A huge chance for Rangers in Dortmund! Ryan Kent skedaddles down the inside-left channel before slipping infield for Borna Barišić, who is one on one with keeper Gregor Kobel, albeit from a tight angle. Barišić goes for the bottom right, but Kobel stays big to block.

GOAL! Zenit 0-1 Betis (Rodríguez 8). A free kick for Betis out on the right. Joaquin hoicks it towards the far post, where Guido Rodríguez guides a header into the top left.

Real Betis’ Guido Rodriguez celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates.
Real Betis’ Guido Rodriguez celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates. Photograph: Anton Vaganov/Reuters
General view of a tifo before the match between Zenit St Petersburg and Real Betis.
The Zenit fans might not have much to cheer about at the moment but they can be proud of themselves on the Tifo front. Photograph: Anton Vaganov/Reuters

Updated

Barcelona create the first chance of the evening in the Maradona Derby against Napoli. Pierre-­Emerick Aubameyang works his way down the left and cuts back for Pedri, who lashes over from the edge of the box.

Rapid Vienna are living up to their name all right. Marco Grüll nearly makes it 2-0 after three-and-a-half minutes, curling inches wide of the top right from distance. Vitesse is the French word for “speed”, incidentally, a pace at which the Dutch side are threatening to capitulate.

Off we go, then. Rangers get the ball rolling in Dortmund. Meanwhile in the Conference League, Rapid Vienna are already 1-0 up over Vitesse. A goal in 34 seconds, headed home from six yards by Ferdy Druijf. Robert Ljubicic with the assist from the left.

Ferdy Druijf uses his noggin to give Rapid Vienna a very early lead over Vitesse Arnhem.
Ferdy Druijf uses his noggin to give Rapid Vienna a very early lead over Vitesse Arnhem. Photograph: Leonhard Föger/Reuters

Updated

Teams are taking to the park all over Europe. At the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund wear their famous neon yellow and black, while the Light Blues wear light etc., and so on, and so forth. It won’t be long before the action begins. Goals, please!

Borussia Dortmund fans wearing face coverings show their support
Photograph: Martin Rose/Getty Images
Rangers fans.
Those colourings are reflected on the terraces too. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP; Martin Rose/Getty Images

Updated

Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst - who missed in the penalty shoot-out when the Light Blues lost here in the Uefa Cup back in 1999 - speaks to BT Sport. “Not the best memory! We had a great game at home, but away it was more difficult. We ended up losing on penalties. I don’t know who took them! Tonight is a big test. A Champions League worthy opponent. They are very strong at home. For us it is a good chance to show them how strong we are as a team. The level we have to reach today will be very high, because the opponents are very, very good. It’s a good feeling to be back in Europe again.”

No Erling Haaland for Borussia Dortmund meanwhile ... but it’s not as though the German cup holders and Champions League dropouts are short of star quality. Jude Bellingham starts out on the left, while Marco Reus, Mahmoud Dahoud and Marco Reus get busy in the middle. Gio Reyna, son of the Rangers manager’s old pal and team-mate Claudio, and named after the Dutchman as well, is on the bench.

Updated

Rangers named an experimental side for the 3-0 Scottish Cup win in Annan, so it may be more instructive to compare today’s line-up with the starting XI named for the 2-0 win over Hibs in the Scottish Premiership. Giovanni van Bronckhorst makes two changes to that team: Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic replace the benched Glen Kamara and the injured Leon Balogun. Aaron Ramsey is among the subs.

The other Europa League 5.45pm teams

Barcelona: ter Stegen, Mingueza, Pique, Garcia, Jordi Alba, Frenkie de Jong, Nico Gonzalez, Pedro Gonzalez, Traore, Aubameyang, Torres.
Subs: Dest, Busquets, Puig, Dembele, Braithwaite, Neto, Luuk de Jong, Gavi, Tenas.
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Koulibaly, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Fabian, Zambo, Elmas, Zielinski, Insigne, Osimhen.
Subs: Malcuit, Demme, Mario Rui, Mertens, Ospina, Ghoulam, Ounas, Petagna, Idasiak, Zanoli.

Sheriff: Athanasiadis, Evangelou, Radeljic, Petro, Bruno, Nikolov, Thill, Julien, Traore, Yakhshiboev, Yansane.
Subs: Basit, Celeadnic, Belousov, Kyabou, Serafim Cojocaru, Pascenco, Carmanov, Plesco, Ignatov, Gliga.
Braga: Matheus Magalhaes, Bruno Rodrigues, Paulo Oliveira, Vitor Tormena, Yan Couto, Al Musrati, Castro, Rodrigo Gomes, Iuri Medeiros, Ricardo Horta, Vitor Oliveira.
Subs: Ruiz, Andre Horta, Tiago Sa, Carmo, Guilherme, Buta, Gorby, Fabiano, Moura, Fernandes, Fale, Bernardo Couto.

Zenit St Petersburg: Kerzhakov, Karavaev, Chistyakov, Rakitskiy, Douglas Santos, Kuzyaev, Barrios, Malcom, Wendel, Claudinho, Dzyuba.
Subs: Adamov, Sergeev, Krugovoy, Mostovoy, Sutormin, Erokhin, Ozdoev, Odoevskiy, Byazrov, Yuri Alberto.
Real Betis: Rui Silva, Sabaly, Pezzella, Gonzalez, Alex Moreno, Joaquin, Rodriguez, Guardado, Ruibal, Willian Jose, Juanmi.
Subs: Robles, Bartra, Victor Ruiz, Iglesias, Tello, William Carvalho, Bellerin, Lainez, Rebollo.

The teams at Westfalenstadion

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel, Akanji, Hummels, Zagadou, Guerreiro, Dahoud, Witsel, Brandt, Reus, Bellingham, Malen.
Subs: Reyna, Hazard, Schulz, Moukoko, Reinier, Unbehaun, Tigges, Passlack, Pongracic, Hitz.

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic, Jack, Lundstram, Kent, Arfield, Aribo, Morelos.
Subs: Diallo, Davis, Ramsey, Kamara, Sands, Wright, McCrorie, King, Hogarth.

Referee: Clement Turpin (France).

Preamble

Welcome to EuroClocko™! Some big games in the Europa League knockout stage play-offs ...

  • Barcelona v Napoli (5.45pm)
  • Borussia Dortmund v Rangers (5.45pm)
  • Sheriff Tiraspol v Sporting Braga (5.45pm)
  • Zenit St Petersburg v Real Betis (5.45pm)
  • Atalanta v Olympiakos (8pm)
  • Porto v Lazio (8pm)
  • RB Leipzig v Real Sociedad (8pm)
  • Sevilla v Dinamo Zagreb (8pm)

... and a couple of notable ties from a UK perspective in the Europa Conference League round of 16.

  • Celtic v Bodo/Glimt (8pm)
  • Leicester City v Randers (8pm)

All this and much, much more* coming your way. It’s on!
* might not contain much, much more

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.