Europa League qualifiers dominated by away wins as Porto opens season

In the first leg of the 2026/2027 UEFA Europa League second‑qualifying round, away teams recorded four victories out of nine matches, while the home side lost four, two games ended in draws and three saw home defeats. Notable results included Sheriff Tiraspol’s 0‑5 loss to Maccabi Tel‑Aviv, Dynamo Kyiv’s 2‑3 defeat by PAOK, and a 2‑1 win for Ferencváros over Twente. The Dynamo Kyiv‑PAOK match was staged in Poland because of the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Portuguese champions FC Porto began their new campaign with a 0‑1 loss to Gil Vicen­te in a televised friendly. Coach Francesco Farioli stressed the need for physical and mental readiness ahead of forthcoming fixtures, including a Champions League tie against Aston Villa. He also highlighted squad continuity from the previous title‑winning season and the return of key players such as Diogo Costa, while noting recent roster adjustments.