A dominant 4-0 win for Stuttgart in the Europa League was overshadowed by controversy after Go Ahead Eagles forward Victor Edvardsen mocked Angelo Stiller with an offensive gesture, sparking backlash and a brief on-field scuffle. While Wesley Sneijder condemned the act as “absolutely unacceptable,” Stuttgart downplayed the incident and strengthened their push for a top-eight finish.
Antony was back in the headlines again, for all the wrong reasons, as the Real Betis star headbutted FC Utrecht's Souffian El Karouani - but somehow escaped a red card. The former Manchester United winger was sent off just a few days ago after accidentally kicking a Girona player in the head from an attempted overhead kick. Now he has been branded a "madman" after luckily escaping another dismissal.
Aston Villa's Europa League clash with Young Boys was disrupted by ugly scenes on Thursday night at Villa Park. Donyell Malen was hit on the head by an object thrown from the crowd after scoring his side's opening goal of the match, while the game had to be halted for several minutes just before half-time after violence broke out in the stands among the away supporters.
Jadon Sancho endured a difficult night on a rare start for Aston Villa as former player Stiliyan Petrov criticised the Manchester United loanee for failing to take his chance in Thursday's 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv. Sancho's subdued display left the former club captain "disappointed" with renewed doubts over his long-term Premier League future.
Morgan Gibbs-White helped Nottingham Forest to a welcome win under new manager Sean Dyche and admitted afterwards that it feels like he and the rest of the Reds squad can "finally breathe" as they put Ange Postecoglou's disastrous spell as head coach behind them. Dyche's first game at the helm delivered an impressive 2-0 victory over Porto in the Europa League.
Tanner Tessmann scored his first European goal on Thursday as the U.S. men's national team midfielder smashed in a long-range finish for Lyon. The goal, ultimately, proved all Lyon would need in a 1-0 win over FC Utrecht to kickstart their Europa League run. The Ligue 1 side sit ninth on the Europa League table on goal differential.