European Cups: Monaco and Nantes beaten, Rennes and Nice suspended
LFrench clubs may not have shone on Thursday during the second day of the group stage of the Europa League and the Europa League Conference: Rennes and Nice drew against Fenerbahçe (2-2) and Partizan Balgrade (1-1), while Nantes and Monaco were beaten by Qarabag (3-0) and Ferencvaros (1-0). The outcome is all the more infuriating for the Rennais, winners 2-1 in Larnaca on the first day, they led 2-0 after goals from Martin Terrier (52nd) and Lovro Majer (54th). Two goals in two minutes, both times coming alone in front of Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
But the Turks reduced the mark by Irfan Can Kahveci with a splendid strike in the top corner (60th), then equalized in additional time on penalty by the Ecuadorian Enner Valencia (90 + 2). A penalty whistled for a foul by Benjamin Bourigeaud who held back the same Valencia, who entered the game in the 66th minute. In this group B, Rennes, Fenerbahçe and Larnaca have three points, and Dynamo kyiv, Rennes’ next opponent again at Roazhon Park on October 6, zero.
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Earlier in the afternoon Nantes and Monaco did not honor Ligue 1. The Canaries lost heavily 3-0 in Baku against the Azerbaijani champions of Qarabag, and the Monegasques, who nevertheless had well start by winning 1-0 in Belgrade against Etoile Rouge, lost by the same score at the Louis-II stadium against the Hungarians of Ferencvaros. A dark evening for the two French clubs which demoted to third place in their group. During the third day, Nantes will move to the leader of the group (2 wins) Friborg and Monaco will host Trabzonspor (2nd) which only outstrips them for the benefit of the greatest number of goals scored (4 against 1).
Ronaldo opens the counter
Last French representative of the day, in the Europa League Conference this time, Nice again drew in Belgrade against Partizan (1-1), after opening the scoring by Englishman Joe Bryan in the 2nd minute. But the Malian Fousseni Diabate equalized in the 60th for Partizan. French and Serbs are two points behind FC Cologne, which won at home against the Czech club FC Slovacko (4-2), after bringing back the draw from Nice (1-1) on the opening day.
In the other meetings, this second day of the Europa League will have allowed Cristiano Ronaldo, top scorer in the history of the C1, to open his counter but this season! Smoothly however, since the serial Portuguese scorer of Manchester United was content to transform a penalty during the 2-0 victory in Moldova against Sheriff Tiraspol.
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The English club, after this third victory in a row away from home, are second in their group on equal points with their opponent of the day, but three lengths behind Real Sociedad who beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford in the first match and won against Cypriot side Omonia 2-1 on Thursday. Finally, note the unexpected rout of Lazio Rome, 7th in Serie A, on the ground of the Danish club Midtjylland, winner 5-1! In this group F, which also includes Feyenoord and Sturm Graz, all teams are three points away. At home, the Dutch crushed the Austrians 6-0 on Thursday.