Mixed Night in Europe For British Sides

Last night saw six British sides in action across the Europa League and Conference League group phases.

It was almost a perfect night for the Premier League contingent, but it was another tough evening for their Scottish counterparts.

Wins For Sunderland, Bournemouth and Brighton

We begin in the Europa League, where Sunderland and Bournemouth both made it two wins from two.

The Cherries, celebrating their first home match in European competition, befitted the occasion with a 3-0 win over Sturm Graz. Evanilson got them on their way just before half-time when his looping header deceived visiting goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov.

The Austrians failed to create anything meaningful in front of goal and were duly punished by Rayan and Alvaro Rodriguez, as Bournemouth ended the night fifth in the group phase table.

It was a trickier night for Sunderland, though, who needed a late winner from Noah Sadiki to beat Portuguese second-tier side Torreense.

A wonder strike from Volnei put the hosts ahead, before two goals in the final 23 minutes spared Sunderland blushes.

And in the Conference League, Brighton made light work of Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris. Two goals from Georginio Rutter, along with strikes from Jack Hinshelwood and Matt O’Riley gave the Seagulls a comfortable 4-0 win.

Celtic, Hearts and Palace Come Unstuck

There was no joy for the two Scottish Premiership sides in action last night.

Celtic are now 33rd of 36 in the Europa League after a 4-1 hammering from Benfica. A panenka penalty from Jhon Duran got the rout underway in the fifth minute, with Vangelis Pavlidis completing the scoring late on.

It was a better night for Hearts, but a late Nordsjaelland equaliser meant the spoils were shared in their Conference League opener.

Finally, Crystal Palace came out on the wrong side of a topsy-turvy 3-2 defeat to Lyon in the Europa League.

The Eagles were playing catch-up when they were 2-0 down at the break, before Yeremy Pino got them back into it early in the second half.

Pavel Sulc — red-carded in Czechia's defeat to England this month — restored Lyon’s two-goal advantage in the 76th minute and held on for the win despite Daichi Kamada’s strike five minutes later.