On Thursday evening, Peter Bosz was the first club to secure a winter in the Europa League with Olympique Lyon. The French deservedly won against Sparta Prague (2-0) and are thus assured of a win in Group A. With this, Bosz is assured of qualification just as quickly as in the 2016/17 season with Ajax, when the team from Amsterdam also qualified after four rounds. . Furthermore, thanks to a well-signed victory against Legia Warsaw, Napoli took the lead in Group C, while Galatasaray remains well ahead in Group E with a difficult point against Lokomotiv Moscow (1-1).
Olympique Lyon – Sparta Praag 2-0
Bosz’s team had not lost a point in Group A after three rounds, but did not play to it in the first half. Opportunities were there, but Islam Slimani in particular was not very keen. The Algerian missed two good chances to break open the score. Europa League top scorer Karl Toko Ekambi watched from the bench, but in the end did not have to save his team. Slimani was a lot more attentive in the second half. In the 61st minute, the striker outplayed Florin Nita for the 1-0 and less than two minutes later he also doubled the margin by heading in a cross from Maxence Caqueret: 2-0.
The Czech visitors had no inspiration and barely managed to create anything in the last half hour; Bosz’s eleven were no longer needed and secured the victory at half speed. It was 3-0 in injury time thanks to Toko Ekambi, who was able to head the ball in freely after a good individual action by Bradley Barcola. Olympique Lyon has not lost a point after four matches and is through. Sparta Prague sees Rangers tied with four points due to his draw at Bröndby IF (1-1).
Legia Warsaw – Napoli 1-4
After the previous win on home soil (3-0) against Legia, Napoli was determined to take the lead in Group C. In that regard, there was a false start for the Azzurri. Left winger of the home team Filip Mladenovic, André Zambo cut Anguissa out relatively easily in the tenth minute and offered Mahir Emreli an unmissable chance: 1-0. Piotr Zielinski almost had an answer in the 17th minute, but his effort hit the bar. Luciano Spalletti’s eleven had the ball and mainly played in the opponent’s half. However, 72 percent possession and four shots on goal in the first company did not equalize and the halftime score remained unchanged.
The teams had barely left the changing rooms when the ball hit the dot. Zielinski was beaten by Josué and took advantage of the opportunity himself: 1-1. The Italians pushed on, but opportunities from Andrea Petagna and Eljif Elmas failed. Substitute Dries Mertens eventually broke the ban: after another foul by Josué, Matteo Politano went down and the former PSV player was allowed to aim for the second penalty of the match. He beat Cesary Miszta with a panenka: 1-2. Hirving Lozano managed to push in the 1-3 three minutes later on a pass from Petagna; his replacement Adam Ounas even made it 1-4 after a weak defense. With eight points from four matches, Napoli takes over the lead in the group; Legia drops to second place and remains on six points.
Galatasaray – Lokomotiv Moscow 1-1
Patrcik van Aanholt, who, unlike Ryan Babel, started in the base at Galatasaray, took a header from compatriot Gyrano Kerk off the line in the opening phase. After that, hardly anything happened for both goals for a long time, until the Turks took the lead just before half-time via a counterattack. Van Aanholt simply laid the ball ready for Sofiane Feghouli, who hit the intersection from the edge of the penalty area with a placed shot: 1-0.
What a wonderful goal from Sofiane Feghouli from Galatasaray! With an assist from Patrick van Aanholt ??#gallmo #UEL pic.twitter.com/MIJ8LrKc1V
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) November 4, 2021
Lokomotiv chased the equalizer after the break and found it in the 73rd minute. A low cross by Konstantin Maradishvili passed everyone by and was tapped in at the far post by Francois Kamano: 1-1. Galatasaray was saved in the final phase by his keeper Ferlando Muslera, who miraculously kept a rebound from Murilo out of the goal from close range.
