The decisive playoff round of the UEFA Europa League kicked off on Thursday, delivering a thrilling mix of matches and results as 13 ties got underway — including the much-anticipated clashes featuring Dynamo Kyiv and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Former Shakhtar Donetsk rivals Panathinaikos edged out Turkish side Samsunspor with a narrow 2-1 home victory, keeping their hopes of reaching the group stage alive.

Elsewhere, there were dominant performances across Europe. Portuguese outfit SC Braga, Belgian side KRC Genk, and Denmark’s FC Midtjylland all cruised to emphatic wins, each securing a four-goal advantage that all but seals their place in the next round. Job done — at least for now.

2025-26, Europa League

Day : 2025-08-21

"Maccabi Tel Aviv" - "Dynamo" 3:1 (1:1)
Goals : Peretz Do., 12 (1:0); Voloshyn N., 31 (1:1); Jehezkel, 58 (2:1); Peretz Do., 69 (3:1)
Yellow Cards : Belic Kr. 62 - Voloshyn N. 25; Mykhavko 91; Mykhailenko M. 96
Red cards : - Vivcharenko 50'

"Shkendija" - "Ludogorets" 2:1 (1:1)
Goals : Duarte D., 18 (0:1); Latifi, 36 (1:1); Ibraimi, 60 (2:1)
Yellow Cards : Webster R. 77 - Naressi 72

"Slovan B" - "Young Boys" 0:1 (0:1)
Goals : Bedia, 16 (0:1)
Yellow Cards : Kashia 12; Strelec 41; Cruz S. 45 - Zoukrou 43; Hadjam Jaouen 65

"Malmö" - "Sigma" 3:0 (2:0)
Goals : Haksabanovic, 8 (1:0); Haksabanovic, 43 (2:0); Johnsen L.B., 90 (penalty) (3:0)
Yellow Cards : Olsen R. 16; Ekong 83 - Slama 12; Dolžnikov 68; Sylla Ab-ye 90

"Panathinaikos" - "Samsunspor" 2:1 (0:0)
Goals : Tómasson, 51 (0:1); Kyriakopoulos, 66 (1:1); Palmer-Brown, 74 (2:1)
Yellow Cards : Palmer-Brown 79; Zaroury 80 - Yüksel C. 28; Tómasson 52

"Aberdeen" - "FCSB" 2:2 (0:1)
Goals : Birligea, 32 (0:1); Olaru, 47 (0:2); Palaversa, 61 (1:2); Sokler, 90 (2:2)
Yellow Cards : Milanovic N. 22; Palaversa 75; Sokler 79; Milne 86 - Tănase F. 12; Creţu V. 39
Red cards : - Cisotti 39'

"Lech" - "Genk" 1:5 (1:4)
Goals : Hrošovský, 10 (0:1); Jagiello, 19 (1:1); Hrošovský, 25 (1:2); Heynen, 34 (1:3); Oh Hyun-Gyu, 40 (1:4); Gurgul, 48 (own goal) (1:5)
Yellow Cards : Moutinho J. B. 57 - Smets 14; Steuckers 42; Bangoura Ib. 90

"FC Midtjylland" - "KuPS" 4:0 (2:0)
Goals : Buksa, 15 (1:0); Osorio, 19 (2:0); Brumado, 81 (3:0); Brumado, 90 (4:0)
Yellow Cards : Erlic 71 - Cissé Ib. 40; Pennanen P. 76

"Lincoln Red Imps" - "Braga" 0:4 (0:2)
Goals : Gómez Víctor, 34 (0:1); Zalazar, 39 (0:2); Zalazar, 81 (0:3); Pau Victor, 90 (0:4)
Yellow Cards : Mandi 38; Ayew I. 58 - Gorby J. 8

"Zrinjski" - "Utrecht" 0:2 (0:1)
Goals : Min D., 39 (penalty) (0:1); Jensen V., 85 (0:2)
Yellow Cards : Jakovljević 56; Mamic 69, 90 - Vesterlund N. 19; El Karouani 75; van der Hoorn 88
Red cards : Mamic 90' -

"SK Brann" - "AEK Larnaca" 2:1 (1:1)
Goals : Angielski, 16 (0:1); Myhre, 20 (1:1); Torsvik, 90 (2:1)
Yellow Cards : Pedersen T. B. 4; Myhre 14 - Ivanovic D. 45; Ekpolo 73; Bajić 90

"HNK Rijeka" - "PAOK" 1:0 (1:0)
Goals : Menalo, 39 (1:0)
Yellow Cards : Jankovic N. 21; Cop 67 - Kenny J. 7; Ivanusec 46; Živković A. 55; Michailidis 70; Kędziora 71