Fernando Medeiros was the architect of the night's most emphatic result, delivering three assists and earning an 8.8 rating as Egnatia dismantled Shamrock Rovers 5-1 in the UEFA Europa League. It was a performance that set the tone for a Thursday packed with goals and late twists across Europe's second and third tier competitions.

In the other Europa League fixtures, Anderlecht produced the most gripping contest of the evening, beating PAOK 3-2 in a five-goal battle that was only settled in the 88th minute. Jiri Pavlenka pulled off six saves to keep PAOK in the hunt, while Giannis Konstantelias created five key passes and Joshua Nga Kana completed six dribbles — yet none of it was enough. Maccabi Tel Aviv were more straightforward winners, defeating CSKA 3-1 with Osher Davida contributing two assists, while Hearts earned a creditable 1-1 draw against Benfica to show that Edinburgh can hold its own at Europa League level.

The Conference League's headline act came from Austria, who trailed Beitar 1-2 after regulation and extra time in their knockout-stage tie before holding their nerve in the penalty shoot-out, winning 4-2 to advance and send the Israeli side home. Ajax, meanwhile, endured a frustrating night in Dublin, where Anton Gaaei — rated 8.4 and the best player on the pitch with three key passes — could not prevent a 2-2 draw at Shelbourne that will leave the Dutch side reflecting on what might have been.

Elsewhere in the Conference League, three sides recorded convincing 4-0 victories. Dinamo crushed Auda with Eridon Qardaku taking man-of-the-match honours on an 8.3 rating; Hajduk were equally clinical against Žalgiris, with Dario Melnjak earning the MOTM award at 7.7; and Motherwell kept a clean sheet against HJK Helsinki, with Ibrahim Said netting twice and Alex Lowry providing two assists. Sion also picked up a 2-1 win over Noah, Rilind Nivokazi supplying the two assists that proved decisive.

The evening's final acts were tight affairs. Gent and IFK Göteborg were locked at 1-1 after a goal in the 85th minute, while Győr and Riga also drew 1-1 — the drama arriving in the 88th minute — with Raki Aouani's four key passes the standout creative contribution from that fixture. With the first wave of European results now in the books, the focus shifts to the knockout draws and group-stage standings that will shape the months ahead.