The UEFA Europa League group stage got underway on Wednesday night, with 18 teams stepping onto the pitch in pursuit of continental glory. Among them were two clubs featuring key players from the Ukrainian national team, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the opening round.

AS Roma opened their European campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 away win over French side OGC Nice. Interestingly, it was the centre-backs who stole the spotlight for the Italian side—both Evan Ndicka and Gianluca Mancini found the net, delivering the three points for manager Gasperini.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk featured in Roma’s starting XI but was substituted in the 69th minute after a largely quiet performance, leaving the scoresheet untouched.

Elsewhere, Oleksandr Zinchenko came agonisingly close to marking a dream European debut with Nottingham Forest with a win. Facing Real Betis at the City Ground, Forest held a narrow lead late into the game, only for the visitors from Seville to strike back in the dying minutes, securing a 2-2 draw and denying the Premier League side a perfect start.

2025-26, Europa League

Day : 2025-09-24

"Nice" - "AS Roma" 1:2 (0:0)
Goals : Ndicka, 52 (0:1); Mancini G., 55 (0:2); Moffi, 77 (penalty) (1:2)
Yellow Cards : - Koné M. 27; Ndicka 41; El Aynaoui 41; Tsimikas 79; Hermoso 88

"Real Betis" - "Nottingham Forest" 2:2 (1:2)
Goals : Bakambu, 15 (1:0); Igor Jesus, 18 (1:1); Igor Jesus, 23 (1:2); Antony M., 85 (2:2)
Yellow Cards : Natan 45; Rodriguez 75; Cucho 94 - Gibbs-White 2; Igor Jesus 25

"Freiburg" - "Basel" 2:1 (1:0)
Goals : Osterhage, 31 (1:0); Eggestein М., 57 (2:0); Otele, 84 (2:1)
Yellow Cards : Grifo 70; Treu 89 - Tsunemoto 42; Ajeti Al. 60

"Braga" - "Feyenoord" 1:0 (0:0)
Goals : Navarro F., 79 (1:0)
Yellow Cards : Gómez Víctor 91 - Targhalline 69; Valente 76

"FC Midtjylland" - "Sturm" 2:0 (1:0)
Goals : Christensen O., 7 (own goal) (1:0); Diao O., 88 (2:0)
Yellow Cards : Brumado 4; Franculino 24; Billing 45 - Malone 45; Aiwu 71

"Crvena Zvezda" - "Celtic" 1:1 (0:0)
Goals : Iheanacho, 55 (0:1); Arnautovic, 65 (1:1)
Yellow Cards : Tiknizyan 80; Katai 83 - Saracchi 85; Iheanacho 90

"Dinamo Zagreb" - "Fenerbahce" 3:1 (1:1)
Goals : Beljo, 22 (1:0); Szymanski S., 25 (1:1); Beljo, 51 (2:1); Bakrar, 95 (3:1)
Yellow Cards : Beljo 40; Valincic 45 - Oosterwolde 43; Fred 90; Aydin O. 90

"Malmö" - "Ludogorets" 1:2 (0:2)
Goals : Stanic P., 8 (penalty) (0:1); Bile, 24 (0:2); Johnsen L.B., 78 (1:2)
Yellow Cards : Busanello 8; Skogmar A. 43; Christiansen A. 45 - Son H. 61; Caio Vidal 88; Naressi 90

"PAOK" - "Maccabi Tel Aviv" 0:0
Yellow Cards : Kenny J. 24 - Sissokho I-f 37; Aly Camara 65; Belic Kr. 90