Europa League 2025-26: Aston Villa, Roma stunned; Nottingham Forest wins under new coach Sean Dyche

Sean Dyche achieved in his first game what predecessor Ange Postecoglou could not do in eight games: win.

Under the new coach, Nottingham Forest presented a concentrated performance, resulting in a 2-0 win over Porto in the Europa League.

It was Nottingham’s first win in the competition and only the second overall this season, while Porto were beaten for the first time this season.

Morgan Gibbs-White converted from the penalty spot in the 19th minute at the City Ground. Igor Jesus doubled the lead with another penalty in the 77th.

Former Burnley and Everton manager Dyche replaced Postecoglou, who was brutally sacked on Saturday about 20 minutes after Forest’s 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea, which left the side in the Premier League relegation zone.

Postecoglou was in office for just 39 days and did not win any of the eight games he was in charge.

Czech team Viktoria Plzeň scored twice within two minutes in the first half through Prins Kwabena Adu and Cheick Souaré to beat Roma 2-1 at Stadio Olimpico.

Paulo Dybala reduced the deficit from the spot early in the second half.

Elsewhere, Braga. Lyon and Midtjylland maintained their 100% records. Kerem Aktürkoğlu converted from the spot for Fenerbahce in a 1-0 win over Stuttgart.

Early goals, three minutes apart from Jens Odgaard and Thijs Dallinga, set Bologna on their way to a 2-1 win over FCSB in Bucharest.

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Lille suffered a 4-3 home defeat against 10-man PAOK. The kick-off of Feyenoord’s home match with Panathinaikos was changed twice due to a storm forecast before the Dutch home team won 3-1.

Mats Deijl’s second-half goal for European newcomers Go Ahead Eagles secured a 2-1 comeback win over Aston Villa 2-1.

It was the first defeat for the Premier League club after two victories in Europe’s second competition. The Dutch team recorded its second victory.

Deijl controlled the ball with his chest before firing a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez on the hour mark in Deventer.

Evann Guessand struck early from the penalty area from a Jadon Sancho cross to give Villa the lead in the fourth minute. It was the Ivory Coast striker’s first goal for his new club.

Mathis Suray equalized with a lob three minutes before half-time, scoring the home team’s historic first goal in the Europa League. Villa player Emi Buendía missed an opportunity to equalize eleven minutes before the end, causing the penalty to go over the crossbar. The loss ended Villa’s five-match winning streak in all competitions.

Fran Navarro and substitute Mario Dorgeles scored one each for Braga to beat Red Star Belgrade 2–0, marking the Portuguese team’s third win of three.

Corentin Tolisso scored from close range in the third minute and substitute Afonso Moreira scored in the final minute in Lyon’s 2-0 home win over Basel.

Danish club Midtjylland took three points from neutral Bačka Topola, Serbia, with a 3-0 win over Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv after two goals from Franculino Djú and another from Philip Billing.

Emil Kornvig scored five minutes before half-time as Norwegian Brann beat struggling Rangers 3-0. Jacob Sørensen headed in the second in the 55th, as the Scottish team seemed unable to find an answer to the hosts’ aggressive play. Noah Holm finished them eleven minutes before the end.

Rangers hired former Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl as their new coach on Monday to replace the sacked Russell Martin. Rangers have no point in Europe. It was Brann’s second win.

Rangers arch-rivals Celtic came from within a goal to take the 10-man Sturm Graz lead 2-1. Liam Scales canceled out Tomi Horvat’s opening goal before Benjamin Nygren headed in the winner at Celtic Park. Minutes after the goal, Graz midfielder Tochi Chukwuani was shown a red card.

In the third division Conference League, Crystal Palace was defeated 1-0 by AEK Larnaca in London.

Published on October 24, 2025