Super Sucic sends Real Sociedad through, Ajax sneak into last 16

Luka Sucic scored twice as Real Sociedad routed Midtjylland 5-2 to book their place in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Brais Mendez had already taken advantage of a defensive mix-up to open the scoring by the time the Croatian midfielder swept into an unguarded goal after lovely work for La Real’s second.

Adam Buksa netted from the penalty spot before Dario Osorio thumped in a stunning equaliser, but Sucic drilled home on the stroke of half-time to restore La Real’s lead.

Dani Silva’s red card for a high foot had the visitors even more up against it at Anoeta, and Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty coupled with Orri Oskarsson last-minute effort secured a 7-3 aggregate win.

Real Sociedad produce a 5-goal display #UEL pic.twitter.com/ubDsR4PZem

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 20, 2025

In Amsterdam, 10-man Ajax progressed 3-2 on aggregate despite being beaten 2-1 at home by Union Saint-Gilloise after extra-time.

Kevin Mac Allister’s 16th-minute opener preceded a first career red card for Davy Klaasen for deliberate handball, from which Promise David rolled in the resulting penalty to leave the hosts – 2-0 winners in the first leg – stunned at Johan Cruyff Arena.

Ajax managed to hold out for extra-time, though, and Christian Burgess was harshly penalised for handball from Bertrand Traore’s ball into the area, leaving Kenneth Taylor to coolly side-foot into the bottom-left corner from the resulting spot-kick.

There was almost late drama when the VAR checked for a last-gasp foul from Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer on Kevin Rodriguez, but it was deemed there was no infringement and Ajax survived.

Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce played out a back-and-forth 2-2 draw at Anderlecht to seal a 5-2 aggregate triumph.

Having taken an early lead through Youssef En-Nesyri after shambolic defending from the hosts, Fener gifted an equaliser themselves with Luis Vazquez the beneficiary.

Vazquez lifted a second into the roof of the net from six yards to give Anderlecht brief hope, but Yusuf Akcicek nodded in to restore parity as Fener got the job done at Lotto Park.

Rounding out Thursday’s action, Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen defeated Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros 3-0 to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg and progress 3-1 over two legs.