Europa League Matchday 3: Bournemouth Stun Milan as 63 Goals Light Up Thursday

Europa League Matchday 3 produces 63 goals across 18 matches

The UEFA Europa League delivered another eventful evening on 22 October 2026, with 63 goals scored across 18 league-phase matches. Bournemouth produced one of the standout performances by defeating AC Milan 3–0 at the Vitality Stadium, extending their perfect European start. Benfica also maintained their winning record with a 4–1 victory away to Omonia, while Bayer Leverkusen defeated OFI Crete 2–0. Real Sociedad recorded the largest victory of the evening, winning 6–0 at Lillestrøm. Elsewhere, Juventus drew 2–2 with Rennes, Crystal Palace shared the points with Beşiktaş and Sunderland were held to a 1–1 draw at Lech Poznań. The results created further separation between teams with perfect records and those still searching for consistency.

Bournemouth defeat Milan after Maignan dismissal

Bournemouth's 3–0 victory against Milan was one of the defining results of the round. Justin Kluivert opened the scoring from the penalty spot before goalkeeper Mike Maignan was dismissed in the first half. Marcus Tavernier converted another penalty to double the hosts' advantage. Amine Adli completed the victory with a spectacular late free-kick. The result gave Bournemouth nine points from three Europa League matches and continued their remarkable opening European campaign. Milan, meanwhile, were unable to reproduce the attacking performance that had delivered a 4–0 victory against Salzburg on Matchday 2.

Benfica and Leverkusen continue their perfect starts

Benfica secured their third consecutive league-phase victory by defeating Omonia 4–1 in Nicosia. The Portuguese side entered the match with six points and faced an Omonia team that had not conceded during its opening two European fixtures. However, Benfica demonstrated their attacking quality and ended the hosts' perfect start. Bayer Leverkusen also reached nine points with a 2–0 victory at OFI Crete. Jonas Hofmann scored twice, helping the German side maintain its unbeaten defensive record. Ferencváros and Olympiacos also completed three wins from three matches. These results strengthen the early positions of several clubs, although qualification remains undecided.

Juventus and Crystal Palace settle for draws

Juventus dropped their first Europa League points after drawing 2–2 with Rennes. Zeki Çelik gave the Italian side an early lead, but Musa Al-Taamari equalised before Boulaye Dia converted a penalty to put Rennes ahead. Nick Woltemade rescued a point with a second-half penalty. Crystal Palace also experienced a dramatic evening in Istanbul. Wilfred Ndidi opened the scoring for Beşiktaş before Yeremy Pino and Jean-Philippe Mateta turned the match around. Junior Olaitan equalised in the 73rd minute, and Ümit Akdağ was subsequently sent off.

Real Sociedad hit six as Celtic suffer another defeat

Real Sociedad produced the most emphatic result of Matchday 3, defeating Lillestrøm 6–0 away from home. Sergio Gómez and Luka Sučić each scored twice as the Spanish side delivered a commanding attacking performance. Celta Vigo also recorded an important away victory, beating Celtic 2–1 in Glasgow. Javi Rodríguez scored twice in quick succession during the second half to overturn Celtic's advantage. The defeat left Celtic without a point after three league-phase matches. Hoffenheim secured their first victory by beating Lyon 3–0, although the match was overshadowed by an injury to Lyon defender Steeve Kango, who required hospital assessment.

What do the results mean for the league phase?

Matchday 3 has strengthened the positions of the teams with perfect records. Bournemouth, Benfica, Leverkusen, Ferencváros and Olympiacos have collected nine points from three matches. Juventus and Beşiktaş remain unbeaten but have now dropped points. Other teams, including Celtic, face increasing pressure after difficult starts. The results also demonstrate the different qualities required during the league phase. Bournemouth benefited from effective set pieces, Benfica and Leverkusen maintained attacking momentum, and Real Sociedad delivered the round's largest victory. With five matches remaining for each club, the competition remains open, but the early standings are becoming more meaningful.