Alongside the return of the UEFA Champions League, this week was the return of Europe’s second and third-tier competitions. Unlike the Champions League which goes straight into the round of 16, the Europa and Europa Conference League first go into a playoff round between the group-stage runners-up and the third-placed sides from the competition above.
With this, Thursday hosted 16 matches across the two competitions which provided plenty of drama and goals throughout. Read on as we take our pick of the best five goals from this week’s Europa League and Europa Conference League fixtures:
Rafael Leao – 15 February 2024
AC Milan 3-0 Stade Rennes
The first on this list came as the third for AC Milan in their resounding 3-0 victory over Stade Rennes, coming off the back of a beautiful move between Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez.
A clipped pass from Rennes’ keeper Steve Mandanda was intercepted by Hernandez with the header landing at Leao’s feet. Leao took one touch before backheeling into the path of the now onrushing Hernandez who first time pulled it back to the Portuguese forward. Leao then expertly let the ball run across his body, taking two defenders out of the game in the process, before firing into the top right corner with his first touch to end an excellent interchange.
Angelo Preciado – 15 February 2024
Galatasaray 3-2 Sparta Praha
Angelo Preciado’s fantastic strike saw Sparta Praha equalise early on in the second half after Kerem Demirbay’s opener.
The goal started with a freekick put into the box by Kaan Kairinen which was headed out towards the edge of the area, where Preciado was waiting. The Ecuadorian rushed forward and sliced across the ball resulting in his first-time effort fizzing through the crowd of players in the box and rocketing into the bottom left corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.
Mauro Icardi – 15 February 2024
Galatasaray 3-2 Sparta Praha
Another goal from this game makes it onto this list, this time coming in Mauro Icardi’s 91st-minute strike to claim the victory for his side in the dying minutes of the game.
With Baris Alper Yilmaz charging down the right flank, most strikers would have made their move into the penalty area waiting for the eventual cross. However, Icardi simply stood his ground on the edge of the area as the defenders retreated towards their goal, leaving the striker open. Yilmaz picked out the pass for Icardi, who faked his shot to create a yard of space before placing his shot across goal and into the back of the net with a superb finish to win the game.
Steven Berghuis – 15 February 2024
Ajax 2-2 Bodo/Glimt
Following on from Icardi’s late winner, this time we have an equaliser in the final minute of the game. Having gone 2-0 down it looked as though the game was set to be a disastrous result for Ajax at home, but two goals in added time saved a draw for the Dutch side. The best of the two came in the 97th minute with Steven Berghuis’ unbelievable chipped goal.
The ball started down Ajax’s left-hand side with Borna Sosa eventually putting the ball into the box. Bodo/Glimt keeper Kjetil Haug decided to come out and punch the ball clear but was only able to make minimal contact as it fell to Berghuis who was in space at the far post. The forward showed his undeniable technical excellence when he took a touch and calmly looped the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net, marking a fantastic ending to the game.
Josue – 15 February 2024
Molde FK 3-2 Legia Warszawa
The final goal on this list came as the fourth of five goals in a thrilling contest between Molde FK and Legia Warszawa.
Legia went into the second half 3-0 down after they conceded three in 12 minutes in the first half, and the game looked finished. However, the fightback started in the 63rd minute when Josue produced a moment of magic.
A cross into the box was poorly headed away by the Molde defence with it looping high inside the penalty area. Josue waited for the ball to come down and hit a perfect first-time volley that flew past Oliver Petersen, marking the first of two goals in Legia’s attempted comeback in the second half.
Comment below with your favourite goal!
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1 Comment
by Quadri olayinka
He’s gonna try is best