The Europa League delivered a night of breathtaking drama on February 26, 2026, as three knockout ties produced comebacks, extra time, red cards, and a penalty shootout. Ferencvaros overturned a first-leg deficit in Budapest, Genk held off a furious Dinamo Zagreb rally in a six-goal thriller, and Panathinaikos survived a red card and penalties in Plzen to advance. The trio of results underlined the unpredictable nature of European football and left fans across the continent in awe.
At the Groupama Arena in Budapest, 17,989 fans watched Ferencvaros produce a masterclass in clinical finishing to overturn their 2-1 first-leg defeat to Ludogorets. The Hungarian side fell behind on aggregate but struck early through Kanichowsky in the 13th minute, levelling the tie. Zachariassen then gave Ferencvaros the lead on aggregate with a composed finish in the 30th minute. Despite holding just 39.3 percent of possession, Ferencvaros delivered eight shots on target compared to Ludogorets' three, demonstrating ruthless efficiency in front of goal. The Bulgarian side never found an answer, and Ferencvaros sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory to progress to the next round.
The Cegeka Arena in Genk witnessed one of the most chaotic ties of the Europa League season as Genk and Dinamo Zagreb played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. Genk arrived with a comfortable 3-1 first-leg lead, but Zagreb tore into the Belgian side from the opening whistle. A Zagreb goal in the first half put the visitors ahead on the night, and when Petar Stojkovic converted a penalty in the 53rd minute, the aggregate gap had narrowed to just one goal. Stojkovic struck again in the 79th minute to make it 3-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate, sending the tie into extra time.
Genk showed remarkable composure in the additional 30 minutes. Junya Ito struck in the 98th minute to restore the Belgian side's aggregate advantage, and Dries Heymans sealed the deal in the 114th minute. Stojkovic, who had been Zagreb's hero, saw his night end in ignominy when he received a red card in the 106th minute for an aggressive action. The final aggregate score of 6-4 in Genk's favor barely captured the wild swings of momentum that defined the contest.
In Plzen, Viktoria Plzen and Panathinaikos served up a tense encounter that required extra time and penalties to settle. Benjamin Tetteh gave the Greek visitors the lead in the 18th minute, but Jan Spacil equalized for the hosts in the 68th minute, making it 1-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate. Neither side could break the deadlock in regular time, and the tie headed into an additional 30 minutes of pure tension.
The drama intensified when Panathinaikos defender Chuki received a red card in the 109th minute, forcing the Greek side to contest the remainder of extra time and any potential shootout with just ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Panathinaikos held firm through the closing stages and entered the penalty shootout with extraordinary determination. In a nerve-shredding shootout, Plzen's Memic and Souare both failed to convert from the spot, while Panathinaikos kept their composure to win 4-3 on penalties and advance to the next round.
The three results capped an unforgettable night of Europa League action. Ferencvaros proved that clinical finishing can overcome a possession deficit, Genk demonstrated the resilience required to weather a dramatic comeback attempt, and Panathinaikos showed that ten-man defiance can still carry the day when the stakes are highest. All three sides now look ahead to the next round with confidence, knowing they have passed the sternest of tests on European football's grandest midweek stage.
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