Europa League round-up: Real Betis beat Zenit St Petersburg in five-goal thriller

Europa League round-up: High-flying LaLiga side Real Betis beat Zenit St Petersburg in five-goal thriller while Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol take a 2-0 victory over Portuguese side Braga

  • Real Betis took a 3-2 victory away at Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League
  • Andres Guardado scored the winner with all five goals in the first-half 
  • Sheriff Tiraspol also took a 2-0 victory over Portuguese side Braga


Real Betis beat Zenit St Petersburg in a five goal thriller in one of the highlights as the Europa League got back underway on Thursday.

Zenit came from two goals down to level things things up with the side sitting third in the LaLiga standings before Andres Guardado scored the winner to give the Spanish side the advantage going into the second-leg.

Elsewhere, Sheriff Tiraspol who impressed before their Champions League exit took a 2-0 victory over Portuguese side Braga. 

More to follow… 

Europa League play-offs first-leg results

Barcelona 1-1 Napoli 

Borussia Dortmund 2-4 Rangers 

Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 Braga 

Zenit St Petersburg 2-3 Real Betis 

Real Betis beat Zenit St Petersburg in one of the standout games as the Europa League got back underway

The Russian side came from two goals down to level things up in the opening half-an-hour

The Russian side came from two goals down to level things up in the opening half-an-hour

Andres Guardado scored what proved to be the winner after 41 minutes following a dramatic first-half

Andres Guardado scored what proved to be the winner after 41 minutes following a dramatic first-half