Mixed results for English teams in new Europa League format

The Europa League has seen its fair share of surprises and drama this season, with English clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United making headlines for very different reasons. Both teams are considers as huge contenders for this years' Europa League final.

FC Twente stun Manchester United at Old Trafford

In what can only be described as one of the most remarkable results of the season, Dutch side FC Twente managed to secure a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Erik ten Hag's side, featuring several first-team regulars, were unable to break down the resilient Dutch team, which produced a performance full of bravery and tactical discipline. Twente showed composure throughout the match, defending resolutely and even troubling United’s defense with their sharp passing and movement. They could have taken the lead early on, with Sam Lammers missing a golden opportunity just eight minutes into the game. United, as expected, had moments of brilliance, and it was Christian Eriksen who broke the deadlock with a fierce strike in the 35th minute, following a somewhat fortunate buildup.

However, Twente wasn’t done. They continued to press and, after a defensive lapse from Eriksen, Lammers pounced to score the equalizer in the 68th minute, much to the delight of the traveling fans. In the final stages, United brought on big guns like Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund in an attempt to snatch the win, but Twente held firm. A superb save from their goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall in stoppage time ensured a historic result for the Dutch side. For United, this draw will be seen as a frustrating setback in their European campaign, especially after deploying a strong team. The result will undoubtedly raise questions about their form and consistency under Ten Hag.

Tottenham wins with 10 man

While Manchester United were left ruing missed opportunities, Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a more straightforward evening. Spurs kicked off their Europa League campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Qarabag, even though they had to play with ten men for almost the entire match. Defender Radu Dragusin was shown a red card after just eight minutes, leaving Spurs with a significant challenge. However, the early setback didn’t faze them. Just four minutes later, Brennan Johnson opened the scoring, settling any nerves in the Tottenham camp.

Spurs continued to dominate the game, and second-half goals from Pape Sarr and former Premier League striker Dominic Solanke sealed the 3-0 win. Qarabag had a chance to pull one back from the penalty spot, but Toral Bayramov’s effort struck the crossbar. Despite the convincing win, Tottenham narrowly missed out on topping the Europa League standings, with Ajax holding first place after their emphatic 4-0 victory over Besiktas.

Mixed results

Tottenham’s victory demonstrated their resilience and depth, as they comfortably dealt with adversity to secure a solid start to their Europa League campaign. For Manchester United, however, the 1-1 draw with Twente will feel like a missed opportunity and highlights the challenges they face in maintaining consistency on multiple fronts. As the league stages just started, both clubs will look to build on these early results. Tottenham will aim to push for top spot, while Manchester United will need to bounce back quickly to ensure they remain on course for European success.