UEFA Europa League and Conference League round-up: Rangers edge thriller to win group, Aberdeen finally win

Rangers pipped Real Betis 3-2 in a thrilling crunch match to decide who qualified from Group C, with Kemar Roofe sealing the victory for the Scottish side 10 minutes from time.

The visitors took the lead twice in a frantic first half. Abdallah Sima gave the Scottish side a dream start when he slotted home inside the box following Betis’ poor attempt to play out from the back.

Philippe Clement’s side weren’t ahead for long, though, as Juan Miranda struck back four minutes later following a silky move, flashing a well-hit strike across Jack Butland’s six-yard box from a difficult angle.

Cyriel Dessers restored Rangers’ advantage with a brilliant finish, driving into the box and cutting inside, taking two defenders out of the game before slipping the ball under Rui Silva.

But once again, the 2022 finalists were pegged back when Ayoze Pérez and former Real Madrid midfielder Isco combined before the former produced a delightfully curled effort to level matters shortly before the interval.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Roofe finished the scrappiest of goals, bundling a loose ball in the six-yard box under Silva.

Roofe’s winner meant that Rangers climbed from third to first in Group C, as Betis dropped into the Conference League and Sparta Prague advanced with the Scots.

It was a night to remember for the already-eliminated Aberdeen, who overcame Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 at Pittodrie to win their first game in Europe this term and bow out with a flourish.

Duk gave the hosts the lead four minutes before half-time, tapping into an empty net to throw the Aberdeen faithful into chaos.

Ester Sokler doubled their lead in the closing stages with a brilliantly lobbed finish to seal a famous victory against the 2022 Europa League winners.

The win means they finish third in the group rather than bottom, thanks to HJK’s defeat to PAOK Thessaloniki.

Bayer Leverkusen continued their blistering season and capped off their UEFA Europa League group-stage campaign with a 5-1 win over Molde to make it six wins from six.

The Bundesliga leaders rapidly took the lead when Patrik Schick fizzed in a low, driven strike in the sixth minute before Edmond Tapsoba doubled the Germans' lead shortly afterwards with a delicately glanced header.

Three minutes later, Xabi Alonso’s side stretched their advantage to three in 25 minutes when Martin Ellingsen turned Nathan Tella’s cross into his own net.

Adam Hlozek grabbed a fourth for Leverkusen in the second half with a brilliant solo effort and scored again 10 minutes later with a deflected strike from 25 yards to score the club’s 19th goal in Europe this season and 74th in all competitions.

Eric Kitolano grabbed a consolation goal for Molde 10 minutes from time, but it did not stop Leverkusen ending the group stage with a 100% record.

Romelu Lukaku notched his 20th goal of the season as AS Roma eased past Sheriff 3-0 in Italy to finish second place in Group G, as group winners Slavia Prague battered Servette 4-0 to book their spot in the round of 16.

Jose Mourinho's team needed Slavia to drop points in order to win the group, but they were made to settle for second after defeat to the Prague side on Matchday Four, and will now face a knockout playoff for a place in the last 16.

Roma started the match brightly and it only took Lukaku 11 minutes to find the target, as he was in the right place at the right time to turn in Nicola Zalewski’s pinpoint cross from close range.

Zalewski had an effort well saved by Maksym Koval, but the goalkeeper could only pop the ball in the air for the alert Andrea Belotti to follow up and nod home on the line.

Teenager Niccolo Pisilli added a third in added time as Roma sealed a comfortable victory.

It looked as though Marseille would be advancing as group winners with the game between the French side and Brighton on the South Coast all square in the 87th minute, but Joao Pedro provided for Brighton again to send The Seagull’s top with a late 1-0 triumph.

The striker bagged his sixth goal in as many games to seal three points for Brighton, helping them to avoid the dreaded knockout play-off.

With just two minutes of normal time remaining, Evan Ferguson threaded a pass into the box for the Brazilian striker, who decisively smashed Brighton ahead for the win.

West Ham’s job was straightforward - avoid defeat to Freiburg to qualify for the knockouts as group winners.

And they made no mistake as they beat the German outfit 2-0, with goals from summer signings Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez.

Alvarez starred and was involved in both goals, chipping the ball over the Freiburg defence for Kudus to score the opener, and played a neat one-two with Jarrod Bowen before slamming home The Hammers’ second.

West Ham advanced in first place, while Freiburg followed them into the knockouts as Group A’s second-best team.

John McGinn came off the bench to help spare Aston Villa’s blushes as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Zrinjski Mostar.

The Scot assisted Nicolo Zaniolo in the second half as the Italian registered his first goal in Villa colours.

McGinn’s pinpoint cross found Zaniolo in space in the box and the midfielder took a great touch before stroking the ball home.

Villa were pegged back late on when Matija Malekinusic curled a brilliant effort past 20-year-old Filip Marschall and into the top corner.

Despite the late disappointment, Unai Emery’s side avoided defeat which means they go straight into the hat for the last 16 and avoid a play-off.

Liverpool suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise as they lost their second game in the group stages, but still finished top of Group E.

Jurgen Klopp selected teenagers Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon and Luke Chambers as well as 20-year-old pair Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley.

Union took the lead on the half-hour mark when Mohamed Amoura took the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher before smashing home, but Quansah equalised with an emphatic effort to draw The Reds level.

The hosts restored their lead just before half-time when Cameron Puertas sent a piledriver beyond the troubled Kelleher at the near post for a sensational victory.

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