Tottenham Hotspur narrowly made it to the third preliminary round of the Europa League on Thursday evening. José Mourinho’s team had some problems with Lokomotiv Plovdiv, who even gained a lead twenty minutes before time. After two red cards for the Bulgarians, the Premier League club turned the match around: 1-2. Steven Bergwijn was substituted by Mourinho just before the comeback. At the same time, Galatasaray triumphed 1-3 with Azerbaijani Neftçi Baku; Ryan Babel played 83 minutes.

Lokomotiv Plovdiv – Tottenham Hotspur 1-2
In the first half Bergwijn came closest to scoring a goal. The base customer, who started on the bench on Sunday in the league game with Everton (0-1 defeat), was served at the edge of the penalty area by Giovani Lo Celso, hit the bar in one go. The game was then ten minutes away. The same Bergwijn was knocked down in minute 28 in the penalty area by Lucas Masoero, but arbiter Harm Osmers awarded no penalty.

Twenty minutes before time Bergwijn was substituted for Erik Lamela and a minute after the intervention Lokomotiv Plovdiv was in the lead. Invader Georgi Minchev opened the score: the attacker headed out of a corner of Dimitar Iliev. Shortly after the goal, however, the game reversed. Momchil Tsvetanov received a direct red card, Bircent Karagaren took his second yellow print and Harry Kane was allowed to dock for a penalty. The striker planted the ball firmly in the top left corner. Tottenham prevented an extension thanks to a hit from substitute Tanguy Ndombélé after a cleverly played out attack: 1-2.

Neftchi Baku – Galatasaray 1-3
Fatih Terim’s team took the lead after nineteen minutes. After good action by Martin Linnes on the right, Mbaye Diagne escaped the attention of the defence and headed the ball into the left corner: 0-1. Neftchi came on level terms just after the break via Pape Mamadou Mbodj, but the joy was short-lived. After a failed rebound from Taylan Antalyali, Christian Luyindama put his head against the ball from close range and the 1-2 were on the scoreboard just minutes later.

Diagne threw the match in the lock after more than an hour of play. Ömer Bayram, who was in the base just like Babel, intercepted a bad pass from Aqil Mammadov in the penalty area and served Diagne on measure. The striker worked the leather gracefully over the goalkeeper. Babel was replaced a few minutes before the end by Jimmy Durmaz. Ryan Donk stayed on the bench for ninety minutes. Galatasaray will play in exactly one week in the next round against the Croatian Hajduk Split.