66 minutes, one spot-kick, three points
Sunderland’s return to European football came down to a penalty. Enzo Le Fee stepped up in the 66th minute, buried it, and that was the night. AZ Alkmaar 0, Sunderland 1.
Nothing about it was pretty. The Black Cats have not lived at this level in a long time, and an opening night in the league phase rewards nobody for style. Le Fee took the ball, took the responsibility, and handed his side the kind of start most of the field would sign for.
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San Siro went quiet before the hour mark
Benfica won 2-0 in Milan. Lukebakio got the first on 16 minutes, Kaminski the second on 53. The home bench sent on Pulisic and Gila at the break. Nothing changed.
Bayer Leverkusen had a smoother evening against NK Celje, a Seslar own goal opening the door before Medina finished the job for 2-0. Olympiakos made a mess of theirs before sorting it out. Szmyt put them behind on 20 minutes, Gonzalez levelled before half-time, and Roman Yaremchuk, once of Lyon, settled it six minutes from the end. Hapoel Beer-Sheva came away from Dinamo Zagreb with a goalless draw.
Lyon travel well, Rennes run into a wall
The 6:45pm slot had already produced a rout. Sparta Prague 4, Ararat-Armenia 1. Celta Vigo went to Omonia Nicosia and came home beaten 1-0.
Lyon were the pick of the French clubs, winning 2-1 at Anderlecht. Rennes drew a blank against Sturm Graz and took a point. And a Frenchman on Wearside scored the only goal that counted on his own night.
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