The UEFA Europa League knockout phase play-off first leg produced a night of high-intensity clashes, surprises, and dominant performances as teams battled for an early advantage ahead of the reverse fixtures.

One of the biggest shocks of the night came in Netherlands, where Dutch side AZ Alkmaar dismantled Galatasaray, leaving the Turkish giants with a mountain to climb in the second leg.

Galatasaray, backed by their passionate away support, initially showed resilience after falling behind. They clawed their way back into the game, equalizing to make it 1-1, sparking hopes of a comeback.

However, the game took a dramatic turn when one of their players received a second yellow card, reducing them to 10 men. With the numerical advantage, AZ Alkmaar ruthlessly capitalized, scoring three unanswered goals to secure a stunning 4-1 victory.

Now, Galatasaray must produce a near-miracle at home on February 20 to overturn the deficit and keep their Europa League hopes alive.

Elsewhere, Real Sociedad secured a hard-fought 2-1 away win over FC Midtjylland, taking control of their tie.

Turkish side Fenerbahçe put on a dominant display, thrashing Anderlecht 3-0, giving themselves a comfortable cushion ahead of the second leg.

Ajax also impressed with a professional 2-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise, putting one foot into the next round.

In a thrilling encounter, Roma and FC Porto played out a 1-1 draw, setting up a tense second-leg showdown.

Meanwhile, FC Twente edged past Bodø/Glimt with a 2-1 victory, while PAOK FC suffered a 2-1 home defeat to FSCB, leaving them with work to do in Romania.

With all reverse fixtures set for February 20, the battle for progression in the newly formatted Europa League intensifies. The stakes are higher than ever, as teams look to secure their place in the next stage and keep their European dreams alive.