17/02 09:25 CET

Sport

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Manchester United began their Europa league campaign on a winning note beating Ajax 2 nil.

Second-half goals by Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez put Sir Alex Ferguson’s men well on course to reach the tournament’s last 16 phase.

Schalke drew one all in their Round of 32 first leg tie against Czech first division champions Viktoria Plzen.

Atletico Madrid turned on the style to beat Lazio 3-1 in Rome – Radamel Falcao with a double.

Elsewere in the early kick-offs on Thursdsay Lokomotiv Moscow beat Athletic Bilbao, AZ Alkmaar downed Anderlecht, Legia Warsaw held Sporting Lisbon to a two all draw.

Salzburg, meanwhile, were on the receiving end of a four nil thrashing by Metalist Kharkiv.

In the later kick offs on Thursday it was mixed fortunes for the English contingency as Manchester City beat defending champions Porto 2-1 in Portugal.

Stoke, however, were beaten by Valencia – Mehmet Topal’s 36th minute goal going unanswered at the Britannia Stadium.

Europa League last 32, first leg results on Thursday

Porto 1 Manchester City 2
Steaua Bucharest 0 Twente Enschede 1
Trabzonspor 1 PSV Eindhoven 2
Udinese 0 PAOK Salonika 0
Hanover 2 Club Bruges 1
Stoke City 0 Valencia 1
Wisla Krakow 1 Standard Liege 1
Lokomotiv Moscow 2 Athletic Bilbao 1
Ajax Amsterdam 0 Manchester United 2
AZ Alkmaar 1 Anderlecht 0
Salzburg 0 Metalist Kharkiv 4
Lazio 1 Atletico Madrid 3
Legia Warsaw 2 Sporting 2
Viktoria Plzen 1 Schalke 1

Played on Tuesday

Braga 0 Besiktas 2
Rubin Kazan 0 Olympiakos Piraeus 1

More about: Football, Madrid, Manchester

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