Norwegian team Bodø/Glimt and Dutch club AZ Alkmaar made history as the first victors in the newly revised Europa League on Wednesday. Bodø/Glimt overcame a one-goal deficit to secure a 3-2 win over Porto, with Jens Petter Hauge scoring twice to lead his team to victory. On the other hand, AZ Alkmaar triumphed over Sweden’s Elfsborg with a 3-2 result, courtesy of Troy Parrott’s decisive goal from a penalty kick.

In the match against Porto, a seasoned two-time champion in European competitions, Samu scored early for the Portuguese side. However, Kasper Høgh equalized for Bodø/Glimt, and Hauge’s brace put them in a commanding 3-1 lead. Porto managed to narrow the gap to one goal in the final moments thanks to substitute Deniz Gül’s effort. Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar responded to Timothy Ouma’s goal with Ruben van Bommel’s brace sandwiched around half-time. Despite Simon Hedlund’s equalizer for Elfsborg, Parrott’s late penalty secured the victory for AZ Alkmaar.

The Europa League has undergone a revamp similar to its prestigious counterpart, the Champions League, with 36 teams participating instead of the previous 32. The competition now features a league-style format where each team plays eight matches against different opponents until January, replacing the traditional group stage setup. Later on Wednesday, Manchester United commenced its campaign in the Europa League by facing Dutch club Twente at Old Trafford.

Before a match between Dynamo Kyiv and Lazio, approximately 60 Lazio fans encountered issues with German authorities in Hamburg as they tried to evade a police escort. The authorities discovered that some fans were carrying weapons such as knives and clubs. Those fans who were detained overnight were prohibited from attending the game the next day; however, no arrests were made. Dynamo Kyiv hosts its Europa League matches in Hamburg due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.