Soccer-Lazio held by Ludogorets, comfortable wins for Bilbao and Lyon

Besiktas Futbol Yatirimlari Sanayi ve Ticaret AS

28/11/2024 19:59

ROME, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Lazio's perfect start to the
Europa League was ended by a 0-0 home draw with Ludogorets on
Thursday as Athletic Bilbao and Olympique Lyonnais enjoyed
comfortable wins.
    Italy's Lazio, who had won all four previous games, were
held to a frustrating scoreless draw by a Bulgarian side who
came to defend.
    The best chances of the first half fell to Boulaye Dia who
was twice denied by the keeper and although Lazio increased the
intensity in the second half, they were unable to find a way
through.
    They appealed desperately for a penalty for what looked like
a foul on Gustav Isaksen but after a VAR check the referee waved
play on, and Matteo Guendouzi hit the crossbar with a shot from
outside the area as Ludogorets picked up their second point of
the campaign.
    Lazio are on 13 points, level with Bilbao who eased to a 3-0
win over Swedish side Elfsborg thanks to goals from Adama Boiro,
Benat Prados Diaz and Gorka Guruzeta.
    Lyon ran out 4-1 winners in Azerbaijan against Qarabag, 
Georges Mikautdze opening and closing the scoring and the other
goals coming from Corentin Tolisso and Malick Fofana. Lyon moved
on to 10 points and Qarabag remained on three.
    Anderlecht were denied the chance to move level with Lazio
by a 2-2 home draw with Porto, the Belgians twice coming from
behind and Francis Amuzu netting four minutes from time to
salvage a draw. Anderlecht have 11 points and Porto are on five.
    Galatasaray are also on 11 points after they were held to a
1-1 home draw by AZ Alkmaar. The Turkish side went ahead after
two minutes through Sven Mijnans but a Peer Koopmeiners own goal
before halftime denied them the win.
    Maccabi Tel Aviv earned their first victory of the
competition with a 3-1 win at Turkish side Besiktas, in a game
played in Debrecen, Hungary for security reasons.
    At 2-1 down Besiktas had a chance to level but Ciro
Immobile's penalty was saved and Weslley Patati put the Israeli
side out of sight 10 minutes from time.

 (Reporting by Trevor Stynes, editing by Ed Osmond)
 ((Trevor.Stynes@thomsonreuters.com;))