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Here is Ed Aaron’s verdict from AZ Stadion:
Tottenham struggled to get to grips with a bumpy surface and looked vulnerable whenever they lost the ball to a midfield being patrolled by veteran Jordie Clasie, once of Southampton. Son Heung-min was guilty of not tracking Denso Kasius when he played in Parrott for a golden opportunity to double AZ’s lead but the Republic of Ireland striker could not find a way past Vicario. Something clearly needed to change.
Dessers, alongside Cerny, speaks to TNT Sports after the win.
Beautiful night here with the team and with the fans but we are well aware we are only halfway there.
Cerny on his second goal to make it 3-1:
It was a brilliant holding ball and then a brilliant pass. I was on the edge of the halfway line and it is about a clear head around the keeper.
Dessers on his two offside goals:
With the first one, I was just looking at Nico [Raskin]’s shot and I was not aware about where I was positionally. For the second, I was hoping to get the ball just a bit earlier. That’s a pity.
And Cerny on the bounce that has come in with Ferguson:
The European games have been good overall. We just said to each other what we want and how we want to get it. You can see the strength and power we have when we stick together.
And a disappointing result for Tottenham which ends AZ’s 10-match winless run against English competition in Europe. Vicario made some good saves to keep Spurs in the tie and they should hopefully be revived in the second leg, in front of their own fans. Bergvall apologises to the away fans for the own goal at full-time.
The tie is not over but that is a great performance from Rangers, especially for a team struggling domestically. Dessers could have had a hat-trick, Butland made some great saves and the whole team put in a massive shift defensively while also exploiting the spaces on the counter.
- AZ 1-0 Tottenham
- Fenerbahce 1-3 Rangers
- FCSB 1-3 Lyon
- Real Sociedad 1-1 Manchester United
In the Conference League:
- København 1-2 Chelsea
- Molde 3-2 Legia
- Panathinaikos 3-2 Fiorentina
- Real Betis 3-2 Vitória
Fenerbahce 1-3 Rangers: Great save from Butland by the tip of his fingers on his right hand side to deny Talisca!
The late double dagger! Cherki leads the counter and finds Fofana. He cuts inside on his strong foot and fires it low.
Cherki attempts to find Almada who can’t finish but Fofana is there to save his blushes. It looks like Lyon will take a slim lead back to France.
They have countered and countered and one finally comes off. It is a exquisite through ball from Raskin and Cerny, who looked a bit leggy a few minutes ago, sprints past two defenders and is all of a sudden 1v1 with the keeper. He takes two good touches before a composed finish seals Rangers’ third. Absolute delirium on the away bench and from the away fans.
Vaclav Cerny makes it three for Rangers! Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
Fenerbahce 1-2 Rangers: CLOSE! Corner for the hosts and the ball is flicked on but it’s just too high for Dzeko.
Rangers make two changes. Sterling and Hagi come on for Yilmaz and Diomande.
Hagi’s father, Gheorghe, if you remember is a Galatasaray legend.
Fenerbahce 1-2 Rangers: The hosts have a good spell that ends with a Talisca header but there is not enough power on it and Butland makes the easy catch.
AZ 1-0 Tottenham: Postecoglou has seen enough and makes a triple change. Porro, Solanke and Sarr on for Udogie, Son and Maddison.
It is all level in the fourth early game of the Europa League: Real Sociedad 1-1 Manchester United. Follow along here with Scott Murray.
The hosts find their equaliser! A deflected cross falls kindly to Baluta who drills it in.
Fenerbahce 1-2 Rangers: And a yellow card comes out for Mourinho for trying to dispute a foul. Was always a matter of when not if.
Will this one stand?! Good ball from Jefté finds a running Dessers, who composes himself and finds the back of the net. But the lines are being drawn by VAR once again … It is going to be tight.
And after a lengthy check … No goal! Rangers have to make sure these two disallowed goals don’t dishearten them but two massive let offs for the hosts!
AZ 1-0 Tottenham: Odobert does well to find Son but the captain’s shot is over the ball. AZ then attack before Vicario makes a low save to deny Poku.
Unreal from Dessers! He puts in the work to help win the ball back and after a quick give and go with Raskin. He takes a shot which is parries away, but Dessers pounces and the ball is in the back of the net!
We go to a lengthy VAR check and eventually the goal is called back for offside. The lines show that it was the forward’s shoulder that was just off. So close!
AZ 1-0 Tottenham: CLOSE! Bergvall has a go from about 20 yards away. Owusu-Oduro is wrong-footed but the shot is wide.
AZ 1-0 Tottenham: And Tel makes way for Odobert in this game. A quiet night for the new signing.
Fenerbahce 1-2 Rangers: Mourinho makes a tacktical change at the half, with Akcicek coming off for Talisca.
We are back for the second half across the grounds.
Some more emails! This one from Steven on Spurs:
It’s odd reading the MBM, seeing names like Propper, Tagliafico, Cerny, Soyuncu. They are all players that make me think: ‘Oh, that’s where they ended up.’ What’s odd is that I am seeing names of Spurs players come up in the AZ v Tottenham game and automatically think that they are playing for AZ Alkmaar (using the modality listed above). It really seems like the spurs squad has fallen away massively from times past. Good players, but few standouts.
Cycles in football can change a lot quicker than we realise. Spurs were seen as a team that could kick on after the 2019 CL final loss but one or two decisions (or even lack of) can see a team plummet.
And Kári with some trivia:
If, like me, anyone else is confused why storied, old Steaua Bucharest now go by FCSB, it turns out that they lost the right to the name to the Romanian army. So, confusingly, there’s now another team called CSA Steaua Bucharest in the Romanian second division. Now my brain is trying, unbidden, to come up with a version of Istanbul (Not Constantinople) about Steaua.
I will also have a think and let you know if I come up with any!
- AZ 1-0 Tottenham
- Fenerbahce 1-2 Rangers
- FCSB 0-1 Lyon
- Real Sociedad 0-0 Lyon
AZ 1-0 Tottenham: Johnson’s long range shot is just over the bar. Think quite a few fans in the stadium thought that went in.
That is a fantastic goal! The Turkish side have been on the front foot but they are absolutely torn apart in one attack.
Cerny carries the ball to the box and then lays it off to Dessers on the right. The winger then sprints for the return back and Dessers’s low pass is lovely, right across the box. Cerny finishes off the move with a composed finish.
Vaclav Cerny restores rangers lead! Photograph: Khalil Hamra/AP
AZ 1-0 Tottenham: Spence is really struggling against Poku, who has been very lively when the hosts counter.
AZ 1-0 Tottenham: Big save from Vicario! Kasius is once again involved. He finds Parrott who is 1v1 with the keeper but he does well to stick his leg out to keep the deficit at one.
The visitors take the lead after Mikautadze’s cross finds a completely unmarked Tagliafico. That might be the easiest header he will ever score
All level in Istanbul and it is all thanks to the substitute! From a corner, the ball is flicked on towards Djiku. The ball is behind him but he simply turns his body and acrobatically sends a fine finish past Butland.
That is his fist goal of the season and the fans cannot get enough of the Ghanaian, chanting his name in full voice.
Alexander Djiku hooks in an equaliser for Fenerbahce! Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
Fenerbahce 0-1 Rangers: A long stop here. Propper had to get treatment after a bad collision with Butland. The defender was rushing back to try and defend after some miscommunication in the back.
Propper is up and OK. He is walking off rather than using the stretcher but will be replaced by Balogun.
FCSB 0-0 Lyon: A very even game so far in Romania. Miculescu with the best chance so far for the hosts, after he rounded Perri, but his shot is wide.
Fenerbahce 0-1 Rangers: Huge chance for the hosts! It’s a great cutback but En-Nesyri is leaning back as he takes his powerful shot and it’s over the bar.
Uh oh! The hosts win a corner that comes in on the left. Parrott scuffs his shot which lands near Bergvall. He sticks out a leg but the ball loops into his own net.
Lucas Bergvall (left) hoinks the ball up and over into his own net! Photograph: Koen van Weel/EPA
Fenerbahce 0-1 Rangers: Soyuncu seems to have injured himself when he stretched out to try and defend Dessers shot. He comes off for Djiku, a like for like change.
AZ v Tottenham: The hosts have to make a change due to injury as Lahdo comes off for Kasius.
Kasius immediately comes alive, intercepting Danso’s pass before finding Poku at the edge of the box. He dribbles forward but his tight shot is wide.
AZ v Tottenham: Møller Wolfe’s bouncing cross evades every defender except Parrot but he can’t quite connect to get the ball on target.
Turkish delight for Rangers early on! Poor play from Symanski as Diomande and Cerny press and win the ball in a dangerous area. Diomande lays it off to Dessers, who takes a good first touch before taking a shot from a tight angle. It initially looks like Soyuncu clears it off the line but the referee points to his watch to show the technology confirms the ball went over the line for Dessers’ 22nd goal of the season!
Cyriel Dessers gives Rangers an early lead! Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
Fenerbahce 0-0 Rangers: The Ülker Stadium is absolutely bouncing. Rangers have actually switched things around tactically, with Ferguson opting for a back five. Tavernier is on the right of three centre backs. Yilmaz is playing as right-back.
We are off!
- AZ 0-0 Tottenham
- Fenerbahce 0-0 Rangers
- FCSB 0-0 Lyon
Roundup of some pre-match stats as the teams lineup to come out of the tunnels.
AZ v Tottenham
- AZ have scored 19 goals in the Europa League this season. They have not scored 20+ goals in Europe since 2006-07 (26).
- Son has scored seven goals in the knockouts of major European competitions. The only player with more this century for Tottenham is Dimitar Berbatov (12).
Fenerbahce v Rangers
- Fenerbahce have the highest shot conversion rate of any side still in the Europa League this season with 16.5, netting 14 of their 85 attempts on goal.
- Rangers have progressed from just two of their previous 11 last 16 ties in major European competitions.
FCSB v Lyon
- No side has scored more set piece goals (excluding penalties) than FCSB in this season’s Europa League. Five of their last seven in this competition came from corners (a competition high alongside Bodø/Glimt).
- Lyon are unbeaten in their last 11 away games in the Europa League (W8 D3). Their last loss came against Atalanta in 2017-18.
A Rangers supporter has died in a road traffic accident in Istanbul before the team’s Europa League last-16 game with Fenerbahce at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
The Ibrox club announced the news in a statement on Thursday morning. “We are devastated to have learned of the passing of one of our supporters in a road traffic accident overnight in Istanbul,” it read. “The immediate thoughts of everyone at the club are with their family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
“We are remaining in constant contact with both the Turkish and British authorities over this tragic incident.”
Our first emails of the night – Peter has high expectations for a certain keeper:
The AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro is on the leading edge of modern football. A hyphen in both his first/given name and last/surname! I hope his performance in the match lives up to the hyphen hype.
As do I! Can he top the two great goalkeeping performances from last night? Based on no facts, I think yes!
And Ed has belief in Tottenham:
Spurs reached the final of the Champions League a few years ago. So the snarky comment was misplaced.
No snark here! I actually think they are one of this competitions favourites. Spurs were in the Champions League final five years ago, yes but that was a very different team. I was simply quoting Postecoglou.
Who would Mourinho better suit? Celtic or Rangers? Could he cross the Old Firm divide and manage both at some point?
People can say that the Scottish League is a league of two teams, but it’s a league of passion.
For me, passion in football is everything. For me, to play in empty stadiums, to play in competitions where there is not that fire of the passion doesn’t make any sense. Celtic and Rangers, they are big clubs with big fanbases, with big emotions, big responsibilities, big expectations. Why not?
Does Ange Postecoglou regret saying he “always wins things in his second year”? Maybe, but despite Spurs yo-yo form, he still believes they can all the way and be in the final at Bilbao.
The boys really understand there is a great opportunity for us.
I said before the [Manchester] United game with the week of training that we had with some of the injured lads coming back – it was a lot of positive energy around the place and we ended up winning that game and keeping a clean sheet. It’s the same feeling now with Mickey and Cuti [Romero] back in the squad and everybody is wanting to finish the season strong.
More from the Spurs manager here.
Ben McAleer has analysed the ties and taken a look at which teams are best set to progress to the quarter-finals.
Here are some of his thoughts on how Fenerbahce shape up:
The Yellow Canaries are in good form; their 3-0 win over Antalyaspor on Sunday extends their unbeaten run to 18 matches. José Mourinho’s team are particularly strong at home, having won eight of their past nine at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
However, Mourinho will be without two key players with midfielder Fred suspended and wing-back Bright Osayi-Samuel suspended and injured.
Read more here.
Europa League: previews and predictions for the last 16
From left to right: Roma’s Paulo Dybala, Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad, Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min. Composite: Guardian pictures
FCSB (4-2-3-1): Tarnovanu; Popescu, Ngezana, Dawa, Radunovic; Alhassan, Sut; Miculescu, Edjouma, Cisotti; Tanase
Subs: Udrea, Zima, Stefanescu, Chiriches, Toma, Baluta, Musi, Gheorghita
Lyon (4-4-2): Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhaté, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Matić, Tessmann, Cherki; Nuamah, Mikautadze
Subs: Descamps, Diarra, Akouokou, Veretout, Lacazette, Fofana, Abner, Kumbedi, Omari, Molebe, Almada, Ćaleta-Car
Referee: Tobias Stieler (Germany)
Fenerbahce (3-4-1-2): Egribayat; Soyuncu, Skriniar, Akcicek; Muldur, Amrabat, Szymanski, Kostic; Tadic; En-Nesyri, Dzeko
Subs: Livaković, Cetin, Djiku, Yandas, Kahveci, Tosun, Tograk, Talisca, Saint-Maximin
Rangers (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Yilmaz; Raskin, Barron; Cerny, Diomande, Jefté; Dessers
Subs: Lawrence, Bajrami, Nsiala, Sterling, Balogun, Igmane, Hagi, Kelly, McCausland, Rice, Curtis, Danilo
Referee: Alejandro Hernandez (Spain)
AZ (4-3-3): Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Møller Wolfe; Clasie, Buurmeester, Koopmeiners; Poku, Parrott, Lahdo
Subs: Verhulst, Zoet, Martins Indi, Sadiq, Belić, Dekker, Smit, Kasius, De Wit, Daal, Van Duijn
Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario; Gray, Danso, Udogie, Spence; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Son, Tel, Johnson
Subs: Austin, Whiteman, Bissouma, Romero, Solanke, Porro, Odobert, Sarr, Van de Ven, Scarlett, Moore
Referee: Rade Obrenovic (Slovenia)
We will be following three games tonight:
- AZ Alkmaar v Tottenham
- Fenerbahce v Rangers
- FCSB v Lyon
Manchester United is also in the Basque Country to take on Real Sociedad. I will be posting sporadic updates but for minute-by-minute action join Scott Murray here.
Hello and welcome to our clockwatch of the second greatest club competition in Europe! Fine, the Europa League may not not have the champions of France, England and Spain tonight but tonight we get to see Tottenham and Rangers – true heavyweights in Europe …
In all seriousness, the Europa League may have a rap for lacking in pure quality but more than makes up for it in drama, upsets and pure smash and grabs. Like last night in the Champions League (but worse).
If that hasn’t tempted you to join me tonight then I will simply remind you José Mourinho will be in the dugout tonight for Fenerbahçe. Twenty-five years into his managerial career and he is still entertaining us in new ways.
As always, feel free to send me your thoughts, predictions, questions, complaints and favourite Europa League last 16 shithousery moments via email.
Kick-offs for the early games are at 5.45pm GMT.
