The 2025/26 UEFA Conference League play-off round kicked off on Thursday night with plenty of drama, goals, and surprises across Europe. From big wins to narrow escapes, fans were treated to an exciting night of football action.

In London, Crystal Palace edged past Norway’s Fredrikstad FK 1-0 at Selhurst Park, with Jean-Philippe Mateta grabbing the decisive second-half goal to hand the Eagles a slim advantage heading into the second leg.

Elsewhere, heavyweights Fiorentina and AZ Alkmaar underlined their credentials with commanding away victories. Fiorentina swept aside FC Polissya 3-0, while AZ proved too strong for Levski Sofia, winning 2-0 in Bulgaria.

There were also standout performances in other fixtures:

BK Häcken demolished CFR Cluj 7-2 in one of the most one-sided games of the night.

Jagiellonia Białystok stunned fans with a 3-0 win over Dinamo City.

Sparta Praha comfortably beat Riga FC 2-0.

Some ties remain finely poised, including Shakhtar Donetsk’s 1-1 draw with Servette and Anderlecht’s stalemate against AEK Athens.

Here are some key results from the play-off first legs:

Rosenborg BK 2-1 Mainz 05

Breiðablik 2-1 Virtus

Hibernian 1-2 Legia Warsaw

Shelbourne 3-1 Linfield

Raków Częstochowa 1-0 Arda Kardzhali

Istanbul Başakşehir 1-2 Universitatea Craiova

Olimpija Ljubljana 1-4 FC Noah

With second-leg fixtures set for next Thursday, the battle for a spot in the Conference League group stage remains wide open.