What we learned from Thursday's European matches

Football writer Adrian Clarke assesses Thursday's UEFA Europa League and Conference League matches for Premier League clubs.

Amad ends Man Utd's long wait for European victory

Man Utd 2-0 PAOK

It had been 379 days since Manchester United last claimed a win in European competition, so there was a sense of relief inside Old Trafford as they eventually saw off the Greek champions. 

During a tepid, goalless first half that saw Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side muster just a single shot on target, Amad had been Man Utd’s brightest spark by some distance. 

Eager to impress incoming head coach Ruben Amorim from afar, the 22-year-old winger stepped through the gears in the second half to go on and claim his first brace for the club. 

Ivory Coast international Amad opened the scoring after 50 minutes, running on to a superbly driven cross from Bruno Fernandes to loop home a precise, but delicate header from a tight angle. 

It was the sixth time United’s captain has created a goal this season, and his 16th assist in the UEFA Europa League, the joint-highest ever. 

Fernandes has also now recorded 26 assists in major European competition, more than anyone else since making his continental debut for Sporting Lisbon back in September 2017.

The night belonged to Amad though, and his second strike on 77 minutes was a moment that lit up the Theatre of Dreams. 

Stealing the ball off PAOK defender Baba with a determined piece of pressing 40 yards from goal, Amad held off a couple of strong challenges before curling a delicious left-footed effort into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area. 

Amad's stunning second goal v PAOK

Amad's heroics helped lift Man Utd up to 15th in the league phase table, and ended a run of three straight draws in this season’s Europa League.

Amorim, who will join up with his new squad after the international break, will feel he now has a platform to help steer Man Utd comfortably into the knockout stages.

See: Man Utd report and line-up

Shaky Spurs well beaten in Istanbul

Galatasaray 3-2 Spurs

Travelling to one of European football’s most hostile environments to face a star-studded Galatasaray side was never going to be easy for a depleted Tottenham Hotspur side - and so it proved as they fell to their first league phase defeat.

In truth this 3-2 loss flattered Ange Postecoglou's side. Spurs were outplayed for the opening 65 minutes as Galatasaray carved open their porous defence at will, producing an incredible 25 shots during that period.

By the time the final whistle blew that tally stood at 28, the most Spurs have faced in a match under Postecoglou. Not since Everton faced an incredible 39 shots against Wolfsburg 10 years ago has an English team had to deal with as many efforts in a Europa League group stage contest.

Left winger Yunus Akgun, who was on loan at Leicester City last season, got the ball rolling with a stunning 22-yard volley into the top corner after just six minutes.

That strike was cancelled out 12 minutes later when 19-year-old striker Will Lankshear became Spurs' youngest goalscorer in Europe since Harry Kane (18 years and 140 days) netted against Shamrock Rovers in 2011/12.

Lankshear finished neatly from close range after Archie Gray’s pinpoint cross had been cushioned brilliantly to him by in-form Brennan Johnson.

Defensive frailties costly

From then on, it was the Victor Osimhen show. The Nigerian scored twice before half-time, as well as having another disallowed, on a night when his electric movement proved too much for central defenders Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies to handle.

Spurs were architects of their own downfall, constantly losing the ball cheaply inside their own half with poor passing out from the back, but credit should also go to Galatasaray for the fierce intensity of their football.

Postecoglou's side were reduced to 10 men when Lankshear was sent off on the hour-mark for a second bookable offence.

Substitute Dominic Solanke did pull a goal back nine minutes later, superbly flicking home a Pedro Porro cutback, but the damage had already been done.

Solanke's flicked finish v Galatasaray

This was a chastening evening for Postecoglou and his players.

See: Spurs report and line-up

Chelsea claim record-breaking win

Chelsea 8-0 Noah

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea recorded the biggest victory in UEFA Conference League history, with a resounding eight-goal success at Stamford Bridge.

Noah, the Armenian champions, who are 311th in UEFA’s club rankings, were never likely to cause an upset, despite Chelsea making 11 changes from their 1-1 draw at Man Utd.

Noah did have their moments, racking up 15 shots - including seven on target - but without the ball they were simply blown away by the speed and quality of Chelsea’s attacking play.

Chelsea's EIGHT goals v Noah

Enzo Fernandez had a hat-trick of assists inside the first 21 minutes. His accurate right-wing corners helped Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi find the back of the net early on, and the World Cup winner also slipped Joao Felix in behind to score.

In between, 18-year-old Spaniard Marc Guiu, signed from Barcelona last summer, had opened his account for the Blues, intercepting a square pass before finishing with aplomb. Mykhailo Mudryk made it five with a ferocious strike into the top corner with the goal of the night, before Felix grabbed his second to make it 6-0 at the break.

To their credit, Noah stemmed the tide for long periods as Chelsea eased off in the second half, but two goals from Christopher Nkunku ensured their place in history.

Based on a start that has seen them notch 16 goals in three one-sided contests, it currently feels inconceivable that Chelsea won’t go on to win this season’s UEFA Conference League. They are a class apart from everybody else in the competition.

See: Chelsea report and line-up