A Night of High Stakes and Even Higher Emotions in the Second Legs of the First Qualifying Round
The road to European glory has officially begun—and it’s already delivering chaos, tension, and spectacular football. On July 17th, 2025, the second legs of the UEFA Europa League First Qualifying Round saw underdogs rise, giants flex their muscle, and ties decided by the narrowest of margins—some even in dramatic penalty shootouts.
From Celje’s six-goal thriller to Shakhtar’s dominant aggregate win, and Levski Sofia’s ice-cold penalties, this matchday had it all: last-minute drama, attacking fireworks, and the agony and ecstasy that only European nights can deliver.
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⚽ Key Results – July 17, 2025
- Shakhtar Donetsk 0–0 Ilves — (Aggregate 6–0)
Shakhtar’s ruthless first-leg display ensured an easy passage, with the second leg merely a formality. - Häcken 2–2 Spartak Trnava — (Aggregate 3–2)
Häcken went through in a back-and-forth battle that featured four goals in the second leg alone. - CFR Cluj 3–0 Paks — (Aggregate 3–0)
After a goalless first leg, Cluj lit up at home, sealing their spot with a confident display. - Levski Sofia 1–1 Hapoel Be’er Sheva (AET; Levski win 3–1 on penalties)
One of the night’s most dramatic moments. Levski held their nerves in the shootout and advanced. - NK Celje 3–3 Sabah FK (AET; Celje win 6–5 agg)
What a thriller! A six-goal spectacle across two legs, with Celje squeezing through on aggregate. - Prishtina 2–1 Sheriff Tiraspol — (Aggregate 2–5)
Sheriff’s first-leg dominance proved decisive, despite losing the second leg. - Partizan Belgrade 1–0 AEK Larnaca — (Aggregate 1–1; AEK through on away goals)
Partizan struck late, but AEK Larnaca advanced thanks to the away-goals rule in a dramatic finish.
📊 Aggregate Stats – First Qualifying Round
- Total goals scored: 40
- Average goals per match: 2.5
- Top scoring teams this round:
- Shakhtar Donetsk – 6 goals
- Celje – 6 goals
- Sheriff Tiraspol – 5 goals
- Top individual scorers:
- Kovačević (Celje) – 3 goals
- Bayala (Sheriff) – 3 goals
- Mickels (Sabah FK) – 3 goals
- Most assists:
- Alisson Santana (Shakhtar) – 3 assists
🧠 Interesting Facts & Highlights
- Penalty Pressure:
Levski Sofia’s 3–1 win in the shootout was the night’s most dramatic moment. Cold-blooded finishing and a huge save made the difference. - Celje’s Firepower:
With 6 goals over two legs and Kovačević bagging a hat-trick, Celje showed they’re a side to fear in the next round. - Away Goals Decide Fate:
AEK Larnaca’s strategic away goal was enough to knock out Serbian giants Partizan despite losing in Belgrade. - Shakhtar’s Authority:
A massive 6–0 first leg win put them in cruise control, allowing them to rotate and preserve energy in the return leg. - CFR Cluj – Silent Killers:
No fireworks in the first leg, but a controlled and powerful 3–0 home win sent a strong message to future opponents.
🏁 What’s Next?
The Second Qualifying Round kicks off on July 24, introducing higher-caliber clubs like Anderlecht, Besiktas, Ferencváros, and more. Expect fireworks, tight odds, and plenty of betting opportunities.
📝 Match Summary Table
| Matchup | Aggregate Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Shakhtar Donetsk vs Ilves | 6–0 | Complete dominance |
| Häcken vs Spartak Trnava | 3–2 | End-to-end action |
| CFR Cluj vs Paks | 3–0 | Clean sheet kings |
| Levski Sofia vs Be’er Sheva | 1–1 (3–1 pens) | Penalty shootout drama |
| NK Celje vs Sabah FK | 6–5 | Thriller of the round |
| Prishtina vs Sheriff Tiraspol | 2–5 | First-leg cushion was enough |
| Partizan Belgrade vs AEK Larnaca | 1–1 | AEK advance on away goals rule |
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