Europa League: Bournemouth rout Sturm Graz 3-0 in historic home debut; Juventus, Sunderland win late
Synopsis
Bournemouth's European home debut ended in a 3-0 rout of Sturm Graz, but the night's most striking moment came from AC Milan's Alphadjo Cisse — whose hat-trick against Salzburg made him the youngest Italian player ever to score a treble in a major European competition. Juventus and Sunderland both clawed back late wins, while Crystal Palace lost again to leave them with two defeats from two.
Key Takeaways
Bournemouth beat Sturm Graz 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium — their first-ever European home win — with goals from Evanilson , Rayan , and Alvaro Rodriguez .
Juventus came from behind to beat Celta 2-1 , with Randal Kolo Muani scoring the winner in the 93rd minute .
Sunderland also overturned a deficit against Torreense , with Noah Sadiki netting in the 94th minute .
Alphadjo Cisse scored a hat-trick for AC Milan in a 4-0 win over RB Salzburg , becoming the youngest Italian player to score a treble in a major European competition.
Benfica beat Celtic 4-1 and Bayer Leverkusen thrashed Lech Poznan 4-0 .
Crystal Palace lost their second successive Europa League match, falling 2-3 to Olympique Lyonnais .
Bournemouth marked their first-ever European home fixture with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sturm Graz at the Vitality Stadium on 16 October 2026, securing back-to-back wins in the UEFA Europa League. The result capped a memorable evening for English clubs in the competition, though Crystal Palace suffered a second consecutive defeat.
Bournemouth's Historic Night at the Vitality Stadium
Manager Marco Rose's side produced a commanding performance against the Austrian Bundesliga club, with Evanilson, Rayan, and Alvaro Rodriguez all finding the net in a one-sided contest. The victory follows Bournemouth's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in their tournament opener, making them one of the most in-form sides in the early Europa League table. Sturm Graz were held goalless throughout and offered little in response.
Juventus and Sunderland Rescue Late Wins
Juventus were staring at defeat at Balaidos after Hugo Alvarez put Celta ahead in the 18th minute. The Italian giants were still trailing at half-time, but Nick Woltemade levelled matters before Randal Kolo Muani struck in the 93rd minute to seal a 2-1 comeback win. Similarly, Sunderland found themselves behind against Torreense following a Volnei Feltes goal in the 37th minute — Sunderland's Timur Tutierov had earlier seen a goal disallowed. Jules Ahoka equalised in the 67th minute before Noah Sadiki settled it in injury time at the 94th minute to complete the turnaround.
Alphadjo Cisse's Record Hat-Trick for AC Milan
AC Milan dismantled RB Salzburg 4-0 at the Red Bull Arena Salzburg, with Alphadjo Cisse stealing the headlines by netting a hat-trick. Notably, Cisse became the youngest Italian player ever to score a hat-trick in a major European competition — a milestone achievement that will likely define the early narrative of Milan's continental campaign this season.
Benfica, Leverkusen Impress; Crystal Palace Slump
Benfica swept aside Celtic 4-1, while Bayer Leverkusen put four past Lech Poznan without reply, both sides reinforcing their status as serious contenders in the competition. In contrast, Crystal Palace — the third Premier League side in the Europa League this season — suffered their second straight loss, going down 2-3 to Olympique Lyonnais and leaving their campaign in an increasingly precarious position after two rounds.
With Matchday 2 complete, the picture is sharpening rapidly — and for English clubs especially, Bournemouth's bright start offers a notable contrast to Palace's difficult opening.
Point of View
However, is Alphadjo Cisse: record-setting performances by young players in European competition tend to accelerate transfer market attention, and Milan may find it increasingly difficult to hold on to him. Crystal Palace's consecutive losses, meanwhile, expose how thin the margin for error is in a competition that demands immediate results from clubs without European pedigree.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Bournemouth perform in their first-ever European home match?
Bournemouth won their first-ever European home match, defeating Sturm Graz 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium on 16 October 2026. Goals from Evanilson, Rayan, and Alvaro Rodriguez gave Marco Rose's side back-to-back wins in the Europa League.
Who scored for Juventus to beat Celta in the Europa League?
Nick Woltemade equalised for Juventus before Randal Kolo Muani scored in the 93rd minute to complete a 2-1 comeback win at Balaidos. Juventus had been trailing since the 18th minute when Hugo Alvarez put Celta ahead.
What record did Alphadjo Cisse set for AC Milan?
Alphadjo Cisse scored a hat-trick as AC Milan beat RB Salzburg 4-0, becoming the youngest Italian player ever to score a hat-trick in a major European competition. It was a historic individual milestone in what was a dominant team display.
How did Crystal Palace fare in their Europa League second match?
Crystal Palace lost 2-3 to Olympique Lyonnais, suffering their second consecutive defeat in the Europa League. The result leaves the Premier League club in a difficult position in the early standings.
Which other teams won in the Europa League second round?
Benfica beat Celtic 4-1 and Bayer Leverkusen thrashed Lech Poznan 4-0, both registering dominant victories. Sunderland also came from behind to beat Torreense, with Noah Sadiki's 94th-minute goal completing the comeback.
