It was an exciting first leg of the UEFA Europa League playoffs as 16 teams competed to advance to the Round of 16 of the tournament. With some surprising results, such as Galatasaray's 4-1 defeat against AZ and a heated draw between Porto and AS Roma,

José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce might have only just squeezed into the Europa League knockout playoff round but it is already on the brink of the round of 16.

UEFA match observer Rui Faria focuses on one-on-one play after watching Porto and Roma draw 1-1 in the UEFA Europa League knockout phase play-off opener.

Roma had been in control with the Zeki Celik goal, but after an unlucky deflection and the Bryan Cristante red card, were forced to hang on for a solid 1-1 Europa League play-off draw.The Giallorossi

Mats Hummels and Leandro Paredes are in line to return to the Roma starting line-up for Thursday’s Europa League play-off match away against Porto, as Claudio Ranieri and the Giallorossi look to set up an advantage ahead of next week’s return leg at the Stadio Olimpico.

UEFA has ordered Roma to close most of one end of the Stadio Olimpico at a Europa League playoff game because of fan disorder.

Roma start Paulo Dybala and Artem Dovbyk upfront, but are missing their mid-season signings for the Europa League play-off with Samu Omorodion Aghehowa’s FC Porto.It kicks off at the Estadio do

Porto drew 1-1 against Roma in the Europa League knockout round play-off first leg at Estádio do Dragão. The first half was a stop start affair interrupted by six bookings, the Italian club taking the lead in added time when Zeki Çelik got into the box and beat Diogo Costa.