Europa League LIVE: Brighton fall behind for a THIRD time against AEK Athens, while West Ham come from behind to lead Serbian minnows 3-1
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for updates from around Europe as West Ham take on Serbian Backa Topola and Brighton host Greece‘s AEK Athens.
FULL TIME: Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens
FULL TIME: West Ham 3-1 Backa Topola
FULL TIME: Rangers 1-0 Real Betis
West Ham 3-1 TSC
Some more changes for you. Sasa Jovanovic Martin makes way for Mircevski during stoppage time this evening.
Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens
What a save! Adingra picks up the ball, drives at his defender, pulls out a couple of step-overs before cutting inside and firing a shot off. His effort cames close to reaching the top right-hand-corner of the goal but Stankovic managed to tip it over.
Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens
Wow… 13 minutes of added time for the Brighton game! I was assuming there would be a lot because of the first half injury but… wow, that’s a lot. I guess the question is… can Brighton find a way to win!?
West Ham 3-1 TSC
Every delivery from James Ward-Prowse looks dangerous. It looks like West Ham could score from every corner they get. He’s really unlocked a new threat for the Hammers.
Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens
Brighton makes some subs. Buonanotte and Adingra have come on to replace Gilmour and Mitoma.
GOAL! West Ham 3-1 TSC
Another assist for James Ward-Prowse. The man is on fire at the moment. But, it was Soucek who found the back of the net to make it three.
GOAL! Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens
Brighton go behind for a THIRD time! They will be so disappointed with that and I’m not surprised, their game management has been poor this evening.
It’s Ponce who found the back of the net for AEK Athens. However, it was Eliasson who got the better of Lamptey before finding his team-mate in the box.
Brighton 2-2 AEK Athens
Looks like that was Perdo’s last opportunity for a hat-trick. He has been subbed off for Welbeck. He looks a little disappointed… and I’m not surprised.
Brighton 2-2 AEK Athens
Huge chance for Brighton! Pedro missed out on a hat-trick after failing to convert… but what an opportunity it was!
Pedro made a lovely run in behind the backline, picks up the through ball and drives towards goal. However, Stankovic did well to smother it at the near post. As a result, it went out for a corner – which they do very little with.
GOAL! West Ham 2-1 TSC
It wasn’t the dream start West Ham were hoping for but they’ve certainly turned it around. Kudus is the one to give the Hammers to advantage after a well-delivered corner from James Ward-Prowse.
GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Real Betis
It’s non-stop goals at the moment! Rangers have found the back of the net thanks to Sima! Roofe fired a shot off, Bravo did well to make the save but Sima was quick on the rebound. VAR did check the goal… but it was given the all-clear.
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 TSC
WEST HAM ARE LEVEL! It looks as though it could have been an own goal but the Hammers will take it! Benrahma did very well down the left, beating his denfeder in a foot race before cutting back and crossing it into the box. It looks as though it came off left-back Petrovic before going in.
GOAL! Brighton 2-2 AEK Athens
The penalty is awarded and Pedro scores! Stankovic did his best to put the Brighton player off but it didn’t work. Game on!
Brighton 1-2 AEK Athens
Another penalty shout! Brighton fans are calling for a spot kick after Pedro was taken down in the area. Jonsson will be nervously waiting as the ref goes over to check the pitchside monitor.
Rangers 0-0 Real Betis
A little update from our other European game. Rangers are being held to a 0-0 draw at the moment. They’ve had a few good chances with the latest coming from Barisic – who hit the bar.
Brighton 1-2 AEK Athens
The fans are on their feet applauding Hajisafi as he is stretchered off the pitch. IHorrible to see a player leave the pitch in such fashion – hopefully he’s okay.
Mohammadi has been brought on to replace Hajisafi. He makes his way over to the injured AEK substitutie to check he’s okay before assuming position on the pitch.
Brighton 1-2 AEK Athens
This doesn’t look good. The stretchers have been called onto the pitch. Let’s hope Ehsan Hajisafi is okay.
Brighton 1-2 AEK Athens
A free-kick ends in tears as Van Hecke clashed heads with an AEK player inside the area. Milner has taken the opportunity to recieve treatment from the medical staff too.
GOAL! West Ham 0-1 TSC
West Ham go 1-0 down! Not the start to the second half David Moyes was envisioning. The Hammers were dominating the first half and looked to capitalise in the second…
But, a mistake from Ogbonna allowed TSC into the game and Stanic finished it off brilliantly.
SECOND HALF: The teams are back out on the pitch… not long before things get underway…
Some big performances needed Brighton and West Ham. Meanwhile, Rangers will be looking to break the deadlock during their game.
HALF TIME: West Ham 0-0 TSC
West Ham are dominating possession and creating chances, but it’s their finishing that needs to improve. It’s the fine details. I’m sure David Moyes will have something to say during half time.
HALF TIME: Brighton 1-2 AEK Athens
Brighton will be disappointed with their opening half. They will need a big 45 minutes after the break to get back into this game.
Brighton 1-2 AEK Athens
Some very good defending from Van Hecke denies Pineda. Brighton will be looking at the clock now, waiting for this first half to end.
GOAL! Brighton 1-2 AEK Athens
AEK stun Brighton by taking the lead just before the break! The goal came from poor defensive work by the Seagulls. A free-kick was played into the box, Gacinovic slid in and poked it home.
West Ham 0-0 TSC
West Ham have had around four or five corners from the right and they’ve all been delivered beautifully by Ward-Prowse. But, his team-mates are struggling to keep their header on targert. They need to do better..
GOAL! Brighton 1-1 AEK Athens
BRIGHTON FIND THE BACK OF THE NET! The Seagulls have scored their first European goal and it was Pedro who converted from the penalty spot. Not his cleanest strike but it will do!
Brighton 0-1 AEK Athens
Penalty has been awarded! Absoutely the right decision. Now they just have to convert it to get back into the game…
Brighton 0-1 AEK Athens
Brighton are appealing for a penalty! I’m not surprised, the Brighton fans players are furious as Joao Pedro is fouled inside the box by Haji Safi.
West Ham 0-0 TSC
Chance for West Ham! Ward-Prowse delivered a lovely corner into the middle of the box. Konstantinos Mavropanos did well to rise above his defender and head it towards goal. But, it glanced just past the post!
Brighton 0-1 AEK Athens
Chance for Brighton! It comes from Fati – who starts for the first time this evening. However, his attempt was pushed wide by Stankovic.
Brighton 0-1 AEK Athens
Brighton are appealing for a handball but the referee isn’t caving! The English side clearly feel hard done by. The shout for handball came from Pedro’s run.
He drove forwards and looked to slip Fati in. However, they felt there was possible contact with the AEK’s defenders arm on the way through.
Brighton 0-1 AEK Athens
Brighton earn themselves a few successive corners. However, they are struggling to do anything with them. They are certainly missing the height advantage of Dunk this evening.
West Ham 0-0 TSC
Great effort from Ings! He fired an absolute rocket towards goal but the keeper did well to punch it away. However, it only went as far as Fornals – who had a shot of his own. But, TSC did well to block his attempt.
GOAL! Brighton 0-1 AEK Athens
Elsewhere… Brighton have gone 1-0 down! The English side started the game well but AEK managed took the lead through an early corner.
The ball was played to Sidibe on the edge of the box. He runs onto the ball and heads it home with some serious power. Game on!
West Ham 0-0 TSC
Good start from Kudus. He won the free-kick in the opening few minutes and has continued to cause the TSC backline issues. But, the Serbian side are starting to close him down quicker, he needs support.
West Ham 0-0 TSC
Chance for West Ham! Benrahma picks up the ball on the right-hand-side, drives forwards and looks to cut inside before firing off a shot. However, he couldn’t keep it on target and the ball goes wide of the post.
West Ham 0-0 TSC
TSC are certainly playing more defensively. Their press is tight and compact. They are looking to spring when they get the chance and counter-attack off the back of that. West Ham need to stay patient…
FULL TIME: LASK 1-3 Liverpool
Elsewhere, Liverpool have come from behind to take all three points in their Group E opener against LASK. Jurgen Klopp will be relieved.
West Ham 0-0 TSC
Ward-Prowse looks to curl is over the wall but it takes a deflection. As a result, it grazed the netting and went out for a corner. Good effort byt not as text book as usual…
West Ham 0-0 TSC
West Ham earn themselves a free-kick on the edge of the box after Kudus is clipped. It’s certainly in range for James Ward-Prowse. Can he do it again? We’ll see in a second…
West Ham 0-0 TSC
Confident start for West Ham. They are playing the ball nicely around the back and building up possession. They’re looking to tempt TSC out of their defensive structure.
KICK OFF: An… just like that, we are underway!
And… just like that! The action is underway. I will be covering the West Ham game closely, while keeping tabs on all the other fixtures across Europe. So, make sure you stay tuned!
We are just 15 minutes out!
We are just 15 minutes out from the action. Just a reminder, we will be bringing you updates from all across Europe this evening. So, make sure you stay tuned!
Ansu Fati makes his first start for Brighton!
How do European teams typically do against English sides?
Backa Topola are the first side to take on an English opponent in their debut game in major European competition since Estonian team FCI Levadia in September 2006.
However, it hasn’t ended too well for those European sides. The last team to win in their first ever major European game against an English team was Trelleborgs FF in September 1994 against Blackburn Rovers.
Brighton squad out on the pitch…
Michael Beale ahead of Rangers' game…
West Ham have arrived…
Rangers team news…
Rangers team to play Real Betis: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Cifuentes, Lawrence, Matondo, Sima, Roofe.
Rangers substitutes: McCrorie, Dessers, Lammers, Sterling, Jack, Souttar, S. Wright, King, Devine, McKinnon, Lyall, K. Wright.
Brighton team news…
Brighton's team to play AEK Athens: Steele, Milner, van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan, March, Gilmour, Mitoma, Gross, Fati, Joao Pedro.
Brighton substitutes: Verbruggen, McGill, Lamptey, Webster, Dahoud, Lallana, Welbeck, Baleba, Adingra, Veltman, Buonanotte, Hinshelwood.
AEK Athens XI: Stankovic, Szymanski, Amrabat, Jonsson, Garcia, Gacinovic, Araujo, Pineda, Mitoglou, Hajsafi, Sidibe
Subs: Athanasiadis, Theocharis, Mohammadi, Zuber, Rota, Pronce, Eliasson, Mantalos, Galanopoulos, Pizarro
West Ham team news…
West Ham's team to play Backa Topola: Fabianski, Kehrer, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta, Fornals, Benrahma, Kudus, Ings.
West Ham substitutes: Areola, Anang, Johnson, Zouma, Coufal, Antonio, Cornet, Aguerd, Soucek, Coventry, Emerson, Mubama.
Backa Topola XI: Simic, Cvetkovic, Antonic, Dordevic, Petrovic, Radin, Dakovac, Stojic, Kuveljic, Stanic, Jovanovic.
West Ham will be looking to recreate their goal scoring form from last season…
It’s safe to say West Ham weren’t goal shy in Europe last season. Only two players scored more Conference League goals last term than West Ham’s Michail Antonio (6).
Antonio also netted two Europa League goals for the Hammers in the 2021-2022 campaign. Plus, it’s worth mentioning the fact he scored five in his last five at the London Stadium in major European competition.
How will the Hammers cope playing against a Serbian side?
West Ham will be looking to start their European off in style. But, this will be the first time the Hammers have ever faced a Serbian side. Plus, it’s the first time they will have ever played Backa Topola. .
Tonight's marks a historic evening for West Ham's opponents Backa Topol…
It’s a big night for Backa Topol! They are competing in major European competition for the first time in their history. As a result, they will be the first debutant Serbian team since Borac Cacak in the 2008-2009 campaign.
West Ham were on fire last season… but can they do it again?
West Ham were a force to be reckoned with last season. They won 14 games in European competition last season (including qualifiers). That is most games won by an English team in a single season.
Only Atletico Madrid won more in one season (17). That happened during the 2011-2012 campaign.
Mark Noble on West Ham's upcoming Europa League campaign…
“It’s a tough group – but you look at the teams in the draw and they’re all tough. It’s something to look forward to and we’ve started the season well. We’ve got a top team from Germany, a top team from Greece and we have to go to Serbia too, which is a really tough place to go and play.
“When you play in Europe you see some really great atmospheres. The shows the fans put on are fantastic, and we’ve plucked some teams with fantastic support.
“It’s exciting – you want to play in the big games, you want to go the fantastic cities and play the best teams. That’s why we’re in this competition.”
Hello and welcome!
Welcome to our live blog for this evening’s Europa League fixtures! We’ll be bringing you all the latest news, as well as, key updates from around Europe as West Ham take on Serbian Backa Topola and Brighton host Greece’s AEK Athens.
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