Europa League Round 5: big wins and hard lessons

Europa League action on 27 November 2025 delivered a brutal reality check across the league phase. Home sides like Lille, Porto and Aston Villa converted pressure into goals, while Lyon and Stuttgart produced statement away wins that shifted both momentum and the Europa League table.

The common theme was control in key moments. Roma finally handed Midtjylland their first defeat of the campaign, Lyon ran riot in a 6-0 demolition, and Lille’s high press overwhelmed Dinamo Zagreb. With one round left, every slip now has direct consequences for qualification.

Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-6 Lyon: Tolisso hat-trick leads ruthless rout

Lyon delivered the most emphatic result of the Europa League night with a 6-0 away win over Maccabi Tel Aviv. They seized control early, punished every defensive mistake and kept the tempo high even after the scoreline became one-sided. The visitors’ structure in and out of possession looked far sharper, and Maccabi could not live with the constant waves of pressure.

Corentin Tolisso produced a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick with late runs into the box and calm finishing, while Abner, Moussa Niakhaté and Adam Karabec added the other goals. Lyon’s captain dictated the rhythm and repeatedly attacked space in the penalty area, turning a tricky away tie into their biggest win of the season.

Lille 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb: Igmane and Lille’s attack overpower visitors

Lille used home advantage to full effect in a 4-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb. From the first whistle they controlled possession, pressed high and forced turnovers in dangerous zones. Dinamo struggled to play through the first line and never settled defensively once the opening goal went in.

Felix Correia opened the scoring, Ngal’ayel Mukau doubled the lead, and after the break Hamza Igmane and Benjamin André finished the job. Igmane’s movement between the lines and timing of runs behind the defence made him Lille’s key attacking reference, constantly stretching Dinamo’s back four and creating space for runners around him.

FC Porto 3-0 Nice: Veiga brace keeps Porto on track

Porto produced a controlled 3-0 home win over Nice, using aggressive pressing and quick combinations through midfield to dictate the tempo. Nice offered little threat in open play and rarely broke through Porto’s first defensive block, which kept the game tilted towards the French side’s penalty area.

Gabriel Veiga was the standout player, scoring twice with composed finishes that rewarded Porto’s dominance in the final third. Samu Aghehowa added a penalty to close the night. Veiga’s capacity to arrive in pockets of space between the lines and finish calmly turned a solid team display into a statement Europa League victory.

AS Roma 2-1 Midtjylland: El Aynaoui and El Shaarawy end perfect record

Roma handed Midtjylland their first defeat of this Europa League campaign with a 2-1 win at the Stadio Olimpico. The hosts started fast and set the tone with intensity in midfield and direct running from wide areas, forcing the Danish side to defend deeper than they wanted.

Neil El Aynaoui opened the scoring with a crisp volley from Zeki Çelik’s floated pass, while Stephan El Shaarawy looked dangerous throughout and finished the second goal with a composed side-footed effort. Paulinho’s late strike for Midtjylland created a nervous finish, but Roma’s two key attackers had already done enough to secure a crucial three points.

Aston Villa 2-1 Young Boys: Malen double makes the difference

Aston Villa beat Young Boys 2-1 in a match where they controlled territory for long stretches but still had to suffer late on. Villa’s pressing and wide overloads repeatedly pushed the Swiss champions back, yet a lack of clean decision-making in the final third kept the scoreline closer than their overall dominance suggested.

Donyell Malen was decisive with a brace – first a powerful header that went in off the post, then a composed finish after breaking the defensive line just before half-time. Young Boys pulled one back through Joel Monteiro in the 90th minute, but Malen’s explosiveness and running in behind remained the defining factor at Villa Park.

Go Ahead Eagles 0-4 Stuttgart: Leweling brace headlines dominant display

Stuttgart produced a convincing 4-0 away win against Go Ahead Eagles, controlling both the physical battle and the transitions. From the opening minutes they won second balls, pressed high and forced the hosts into rushed clearances, which kept the game locked in the Dutch side’s half.

Jamie Leweling delivered a standout performance with two excellent goals from outside and inside the box, constantly threatening with direct running. Bilal El Khannouss added a composed third and Badredine Bouanani finished a late counter-attack to make it four. Stuttgart’s front line looked sharper in every duel and turned a potentially tight Europa League away fixture into a statement result.

Round 5 context and Europa League table picture

These results tightened the Europa League league-phase table. Lyon, Midtjylland and Aston Villa are all sitting on 12 points, Porto moved to 10, while Lille and Stuttgart joined the crowded middle pack on nine. The gap between direct qualification for the knockouts and the playoff zone is thin, so one more bad night could push a contender into a much tougher path.

Roma’s win brought them to nine points and gave them a direct tiebreaker over Midtjylland, while Dinamo Zagreb and Go Ahead Eagles dropped into more dangerous territory after heavy defeats. With only one Europa League matchday left, goal difference and head-to-head records now matter as much as points on the board.

Conclusion

For Europa League fans across Africa, the next round offers another chance to back their reading of form, momentum and injuries. The Best sports betting sites in Kenya already adjust odds after this round’s big swings, so anyone placing wagers should track lineups, travel and rotation before committing stakes.

As the league phase heads into its final matchday, one sharp 90-minute performance can secure a direct route to the knockouts, while one poor night can leave a Europa League campaign hanging by a thread.