Tottenham had a shaky start and went behind early, raising concerns for Ange Postecoglou’s side. But spurred on by their home crowd, just as their manager had urged, they regrouped and took control of the game. Once Pedro Porro's flick found the net, Spurs looked the stronger team and arguably deserved more from the match. They hit the woodwork three times and saw major chances go begging, with Brennan Johnson sending a shot over the bar and both Son Heung-min and James Maddison denied by Santos. The tie remains open, but winning away in Frankfurt is a tough ask, only three teams have managed it this season.
On the other hand, Manchester United preserved their unbeaten Europa League run despite a late equalizer from Rayan Cherki. If not for some questionable goalkeeping from Andre Onana, Ruben Amorim's side might have secured an impressive away win.
Still, United remain unbeaten with six wins and five draws, marking their longest unbeaten run in European competition in a single season since they won the tournament in 2016-17. Amorim has pointed to improved physicality and a stronger understanding of his tactical setup as key factors. They’ll now look to set a new club European record in the return leg at Old Trafford.
Elsewhere in Europe:
Rangers manager Barry Ferguson made a bold call by dropping Jack Butland for their biggest match of the season, but it paid off. Liam Kelly, with limited appearances since his move from Motherwell, impressed in his first Europa League outing.
Despite a recent run of conceding goals, Rangers held firm against Athletic Club. The raucous atmosphere at Ibrox made the goalless draw feel like a moral victory. They now head to Bilbao for the second leg, knowing they'll face a determined opponent eager to reach a final on home soil.
At Chelsea, Enzo Maresca faced criticism for his squad selection against Brentford, but his rotation worked well in Warsaw. Barring a dramatic collapse at Stamford Bridge, they look set for the semi-finals of the Conference League.
Tyrique George marked his start with his first senior goal, while Cole Palmer got 45 minutes on his return from injury before being replaced by Noni Madueke, who also got on the scoresheet.
Despite another slow start, the fifth time they’ve failed to score in the first half of a European game, Chelsea dominated after the break. Maresca’s strategy of peaking in the second half paid off again as they continue to breeze through the competition.
