The headline of 17 September 2026 was unquestionably Juventus’ clinical 5-0 demolition of NEC Nijmegen in the UEFA Europa League. The Italian giants arrived in the Netherlands with intent, turning a routine league-phase fixture into a statement of purpose as they piled on five unanswered goals. Across the border in Spain, LaLiga delivered its own drama, with Real Betis edging Getafe and Villarreal delivering a comfortable 3-1 victory at the Estadio de la Cerámica against Málaga. Together these results set the tone for a busy mid-week of European and domestic football, reinforcing the early-season hierarchy in both competitions.

LaLiga

  • Real Betis 1-0 Getafe
  • Málaga 1-3 Villarreal

The Seville-based side continued to cement its place among the Champions League qualifiers, while Villarreal’s away win over Málaga further widened the gap between the mid-table contenders and the relegation-watch clubs. Both fixtures were tightly contested, yet the outcomes underscore the growing consistency of the top-five clubs. For a deeper look at Villarreal’s performance, see the match report on our site: Villarreal 1-2 Real Betis: LaLiga clash at Estadio de la Cerámica.

UEFA Europa League

  • Levski Sofia 0-1 RB Salzburg (League Phase)
  • OFI CRETE 2-0 TSG Hoffenheim (League Phase)
  • Besiktas 4-1 Marseille (League Phase)
  • Celtic 1-3 Ferencvaros (League Phase)
  • Crystal Palace 4-0 Lech Poznan (League Phase)
  • Juventus 5-0 NEC Nijmegen (League Phase)
  • Lillestrom 1-2 Torreense (League Phase)
  • Real Sociedad 1-2 AFC Bournemouth (League Phase)
  • Viktoria Plzen 0-3 Union St.-Gilloise (League Phase)

The league phase of the Europa League proved a showcase for attacking intent. RB Salzburg slipped past Levski Sofia with a solitary goal, while OFI Crete and Juventus delivered the most decisive margins of the day. The Turkish side Besiktas displayed a potent offense against Marseille, and Crystal Palace’s four-nil away win at Lech Poznan highlighted their early dominance in the group. Union St.-Gilloise’s three-goal away victory kept their qualification hopes alive, while the heavy defeat for Viktoria Plzen cemented their early exit.

Table watch

LaLiga – The current standings reinforce the early season narrative. Barcelona sit top of the table with a perfect record, securing a Champions League berth. Real Madrid, Real Betis, Atlético Madrid and Sevilla occupy the remaining Champions League spots, each with points ranging from 13 to 15 after six matches. At the opposite end, Valencia, Málaga and Elche are entrenched in the relegation zone, with just four, three and two points respectively.

UEFA Europa League – The group stage is already taking shape. Juventus, Crystal Palace, Sparta Prague, Besiktas and Union St.-Gilloise have all earned three points from their opening matches, guaranteeing a place in the round of 16. Conversely, Viktoria Plzen, Lech Poznan and NEC Nijmegen remain without points and are officially eliminated from the competition.

Talking points

  • Juventus’ five-goal flourish – The 5-0 thrashing of NEC Nijmegen was the day’s most emphatic result, underlining the Italian side’s ambition to progress deep into the Europa League. Their early goal-scoring spree puts them in a strong position to challenge for the title.
  • Villarreal’s away resurgence – A 3-1 victory at Málaga not only gave Villarreal three valuable points but also demonstrated their ability to secure wins on the road, a factor that could prove decisive in the race for a Champions League place.
  • Crystal Palace’s dominant display – The English club’s four-nil away win over Lech Poznan highlighted their defensive solidity and attacking fluency, setting them firmly among the early qualifiers for the knockout rounds.

For more context on last week’s LaLiga action, revisit our previous roundup: 2026-09-14 football roundup: Premier League thrashing leads the day.

The results from 17 September illustrate a clear early hierarchy in both LaLiga and the Europa League, with the traditional powerhouses asserting control while the lower-ranked sides fight to avoid the drop or early elimination. Fans can expect the battle for European qualification and survival to intensify as the season progresses.