EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Ajax edge past Jablonec as Athletic Bilbao lose after throwing away two-goal lead at Zilina

Arkadiusz Milik's second-half penalty was enough for Ajax to see off Czech Republic side Jablonec 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League play-off round.

Riechedly Bazoer and Milik himself missed early chances for the home side at the Amsterdam Arena, before Jablonec's Jan Gregus curled a shot just wide after the half-hour mark.

Ajax finally found the breakthrough in the 54th minute when Davy Klaassen was fouled in the box, and Milik stepped up to tuck the ball home into the bottom corner.

Arkadiusz Milik's second-half penalty was enough for Ajax to see off Czech Republic side Jablonec

Arkadiusz Milik's second-half penalty was enough for Ajax to see off Czech Republic side Jablonec

Milik stepped up to tuck the ball home and give his side a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg

Milik stepped up to tuck the ball home and give his side a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg

Frank de Boer will next take his side to Czech Republic next Thursday to defend their slender lead. 


Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao threw away a two-goal advantage as they fell 3-2 to Zilina.

Bilbao took an early lead through Sabin Merino's 16th-minute effort, and Kike Sola doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark.

The La Liga side appeared to be cruising, but were pegged back in the second-half via goals from Jakub Paur and William, before the latter struck again in the 90th minute to win it for the Slovakians.

Sabin Merino of Athletic Bilbao (centre) celebrates after scoring the opener for Athletic Bilbao

Sabin Merino of Athletic Bilbao (centre) celebrates after scoring the opener for Athletic Bilbao

Zilina's William (centre) struck twice as they came from two goals down to win 

Zilina's William (centre) struck twice as they came from two goals down to win 

Robin van Persie scored the only goal as Fenerbahce recorded a 1-0 victory away at Atromitos.

The Dutchman netted in the 90th minute for his new club to give his side the slender lead heading to Greece for the second leg.

Robin van Persie scored the only goal as Fenerbahce recorded a 1-0 victory away at Greek side Atromitos

Robin van Persie scored the only goal as Fenerbahce recorded a 1-0 victory away at Greek side Atromitos

Borussia Dortmund launched a stunning comeback from three goals down to win 4-3 in Norway against Odds Ballklubb.

The Bundesliga side were hit three times in 22 minutes before striking back with a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and one each from Shinji Kagawa and Henrik Mkhitaryan. 

Borussia Dortmund launched a stunning comeback from three goals down to win in  against Odd Ballklubb

Borussia Dortmund launched a stunning comeback from three goals down to win in against Odd Ballklubb

And Southampton came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Danish side Midtjylland in their first leg at St Mary's.

Former Saints youth player Tim Sparv came back to haunt his old club with the opener, before James Rodriguez netted a penalty to level the tie at the halfway stage.

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