Omonia - Manchester United: 2-3

In his pre-match interview, Omonia manager Neil Lennon said he needed his goalkeeper to have a good game, and up until halftime, he would’ve had no complaints.

Inside the first 10 minutes, Fabiano denied Cristiano Ronaldo, who had found space on the left before driving low towards the bottom corner. The chances kept coming, as Bruno Fernandes’ lob hit the bar before Antony forced another spectacular save after cutting in from the left, arrowing his effort towards the top corner.

United’s wastefulness would cost them though, as the hosts charged up the other end to sensationally take the lead. In scenes reminiscent of their UEFA Champions League loss to Istanbul Basaksehir two years ago, the visitors left just one man back from a set-piece and were caught on the counter, as Bruno’s exceptional dribble was finished emphatically by Karim Ansarifard.

Erik ten Hag wasted no time in shuffling the pack, introducing Luke Shaw and Rashford at the break. The latter wasted no time making an impact, striking the equaliser within eight minutes of his introduction. Omonia failed to deal with a long ball and Rashford was first to react, brilliantly slotting into the far corner from outside the area.

Momentum was firmly with the visitors now and Anthony Martial wasted no time in putting United ahead. Less than two minutes after coming on, the Frenchman received a flick-on from Rashford and produced a clinical finish, snapping his shot in at the near post.

Ultimately, that goal would prove decisive, as a 700th club goal continued to evade Ronaldo, with the Portuguese missing a glorious chance to double United’s advantage late on. He would turn provider for United’s third though, as he pulled a shot that was heading wide before being turned home at the back post by Rashford.

Omonia fired straight back though as sloppy play at the back allowed the hosts to steal into the final third, with Andronikos Kakoullis feeding Nikolas Panagiotou to drive beyond David de Gea.

To the relief of ten Hag, time would run out for an equaliser, with United keeping themselves in contention to battle Real Sociedad for top spot. Meanwhile, despite a gallant effort, Omonia have lost all three group games this season and won just one of their 27 group stage games at this level.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

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Zurich - PSV: 1-5

PSV Eindhoven registered their first victory of the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign following a 5-1 rout of FC Zürich at the Stadion Letzigrund.

Hoping to bounce back in the wake of a humiliating 3-0 defeat to SC Cambuur in the Eredivisie, the visitors began invigorated as Yanick Brecher was left helpless against PSV taking a deserved lead in the 10th minute when Yorbe Vertessen exploited Armando Obispo’s exquisite defence-splitting pass to fire past the Zürich number one.

However, with only five more minutes on the clock, Genesio Colatrella’s interim troops found themselves further behind when Vertessen doubled his and PSV’s tally with a clinical strike after a cut-throat counter.

Zürich were staring at a fourth successive home defeat with only 22 minutes on the clock, and Cody Gakpo ended any faint aspirations the Swiss side had of mounting a comeback with a sublime strike into the bottom left-hand corner from the edge of the area.

But Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side were not finished yet, as marauding forward Xavi Simons added a fourth ten minutes before HT after an exquisite one-two with Gakpo on the edge of the area.

PSV were fractions away from a fifth goal when Gakpo fired agonisingly wide of the post, but the highly sought-after Dutch winger was not to be denied his second goal of the evening, spectacularly firing past the beleaguered silhouette of Brecher from a distance moments later.

With victory assured, Vertessen and Gakpo were replaced shortly after the hour mark to a standing ovation. However, that did not stop the Red and Whites from coming close to a sixth when Vertessen’s replacement, Anwar El Ghazi, struck the crossbar.

Substitute Jonathan Okita headed a late consolation for Zürich, but it did nothing for the hosts’ confidence ahead of the reverse fixture in Holland a week today, as victory secured PSV’s fifth against Swiss opposition from their last seven encounters.

In contrast, FC Zürich remain without a win in the season’s UEL campaign.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Yorbe Vertessen (PSV Eindhoven)

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Monaco - Trabzonspor: 3-1

10-man Trabzonspor fell to a 3-1 defeat at the Stade Louis II courtesy of a double from invigorated AS Monaco frontman Wissam Ben Yedder after Maxi Gomez saw red early on inconceivably kicking out when being fouled himself.

Both sides came into the tie on three points chasing Hungarian side Ferencvaros TC, who they had each previously succumbed to. Knowing the reverse fixture would define their respective Europa League (UEL) campaigns, it was a moment of foolishness inside the opening 10 minutes which would potentially define the landscape.

After innocuously being fouled himself deep inside his own territory, striker Gomez almost caught original offender Mohamed Camara in the eye as he extended his leg in anger. The incident went unnoticed by the referee, who eventually consulted VAR minutes later and showed Gomez a warranted red card.

The Turkish giants faced an uphill battle from there on out, but unfortunately, their reduced numbers held out for only a matter of minutes.

Like a knife through butter, Caio Henrique raided down the left, exchanging intricate passes with Breel Embolo. The Swiss international eventually picked up the ball once again near the touchline, digging out a cut-back for the onrushing Ben Yedder, who followed up his weekend hat-trick by firing home with his left foot.

On the stroke of halftime, Ben Yedder gained the chance to double the lead from the spot, after Vanderson was shoved by Enis Bardhi just as he was about to unleash an effort on goal. Ben Yedder made no mistake despite his stuttering run-up, sending Ugurcan Cakir the wrong way.

Goal difference may become a crucial factor in Group H, and it seemed a matter of how many for the Monegasques. Axel Disasi got in on the act to make it three, heading home from close range as an Embolo flick-on was guided into his path from a corner. Anastasios Bakasetas’ long-range effort 20 minutes from time sparked hope of an unlikely comeback, but it proved to be no more than a consolation as Monaco strolled home.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco)

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In other fixtures:

Elsewhere in the Europa League early fixtures, Crvena Zvezda romped to a 4-1 win at home to Ferencvaros. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad went top in Group E with a 2-0 win away at Sheriff Tiraspol. 

HJK and Ludogorets played out a 1-1 draw while Sturm Graz held visiting Lazio to a 0-0 stalemate.

Finally, Malmo and Union Berlin had their match interrupted for around 20 minutes in the second half after fans threw fireworks onto the pitch. After an early red card for Union, the visiting German side managed to come away with a 1-0 victory and register their first points in the competition.