Chelsea eased to a commanding 4-1 win against Panathinaikos on an emotional night in Athens as João Félix scored twice to maintain their perfect start in the Conference League.
It was a poignant occasion for the Greek side who mourned the death of defender George Baldock, a tragedy made to feel all the more immediate by the fact the 31-year-old was in the starting XI the last time the team played at home on 6 October, three days before his passing.
Prior to kick-off, a live band gave a rendition of David Bowie’s Starman before the stadium observed a moment’s silence in his memory. Paying their own tribute, the visitors posed with a Chelsea shirt bearing Baldock’s name and number 32.
Félix scored after 22 minutes to quieten the Olympic Stadium before Enzo Maresca’s side let rip in the second half, scoring three times in the first 15 minutes after the interval to blow the home side away and lay bear a chasmic gulf in class.
Mykhailo Mudryk answered Maresca’s pre-match challenge to finally show his value with a well-taken header before Félix got his second and Christopher Nkunku slotted in a penalty. Former Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri tapped home a second-half consolation.
Heart of Midlothian continued their winning start to their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Omonia at Tynecastle. The Scottish side, who sit second-bottom in the Scottish Premiership, went ahead on 16 minutes through Alan Forrest before Blair Spittal doubled the lead. In the UEFA Europa League, Rangers beat FCSB 4-0, with Vaclav Cerny bagging a brace.
Hearts’ unbeaten start to their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign continued with a 2-0 win over Omonia at Tynecastle.
Neil Critchley’s side, who are second-bottom in the Scottish Premiership, went in at the break two goals to the good thanks to Alan Forrest’s 16th-minute strike, before Blair Spittal made it two seven minutes later with a neat finish after he was teed up by Kenneth Vargas.
It follows the Scots’ narrow 2-1 win over Dinamo Minsk on matchday one. Critchley has two wins from two since his arrival as new manager last week, steering his side to a 4-0 rout over St Mirren last weekend.
Elsewhere in the Conference League, Fiorentina overcame a tricky test at Swiss side St. Gallen, coming from behind to win a rollercoaster game 4-2.
Lucas Martinez Quarta and Jonathan Ikone’s goals cancelled out Felix Mambimbi’s opener, but they were pegged back when Lukas Gortler equalised on 62 minutes. However, Ikone doubled his tally seven minutes late to put La Viola back in front, and Robin Gosens, the left-back on loan from Union Berlin, added a fourth late on in the third minute of stoppage time.
Larne, who became the first Northern Irish team to qualify for a group stage of any UEFA competition since 1977, were beaten heavily by Shamrock Rovers, of the Republic of Ireland, who ran out 4-1 winners. Joshua Honohan and Johnny Kenny had them two up within 24 minutes, before an own goal from Tomas Cosgrove made it three.
Christopher Gallagher halved the deficit three minutes into the second half, but former Aston Villa winger Graham Burke notched a fourth just five minutes later to wrap up the three points for Shamrock.
There was late drama in Belgium as Archibald Norman Brown’s winner in the 95th minute gave the home side victory over Molde, after Mats Moller Daehli, the former Cardiff City midfielder, had cancelled out Noah Fadiga’s opener.
Istanbul Basaksehir, who famously beat Manchester United 2-1 in November 2020, were hammered 5-1 by Slovenian side Celje, as Armandas Kucys struck a brace, while Dion Drena Beljo’s 31st-minute goal was enough for Rapid Vienna to beat Noah.
Real Betis, managed by former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Copenhagen, and The New Saints, the Welsh side, beat Astana 2-0 with goals from Rory Holden and Declan McManus from the penalty spot.
