Mats Hummels remains on the sidelines for AS Roma during Europa League matches, while Chelsea achieved a record-breaking 8-0 victory over FC Noah in the Conference League. Timo Werner also missed action as Tottenham lost to Galatasaray. U21 striker Youssoufa Moukoko helped OGC Nice earn a draw after trailing, and Robin Gosens faced defeat with AC Florence. In Amsterdam, clashes erupted between pro-Palestinian protesters and police during Ajax’s match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, which Ajax won 5-0.
Mats Hummels continues to face challenges at AS Roma, remaining sidelined even during Europa League matches. While he sits on the bench, Chelsea is on a scoring spree, and Manchester United is scraping by with hard-fought wins. Football seems to take a backseat in Amsterdam amidst these developments.
Chelsea’s Record-Breaking Performance
Chelsea prepared for their upcoming clash against 1. FC Heidenheim by delivering an astonishing 8-0 victory over FC Noah, the Armenian runners-up, in the Conference League. This impressive win not only solidified their position at the top of the table but also marked the largest margin of victory in the competition’s short history.
With a mix of fresh faces in the starting lineup, Chelsea quickly established dominance against their overwhelmed opponents. The scoring began with Tosin Adarabioyo’s goal in the 12th minute, followed shortly by strikes from Marc Guiu and Axel Disasi, bringing the score to 3-0 within just six minutes. Joao Felix and Mychajlo Mudryk added to the tally, while Christopher Nkunku capped off the rout with two goals, one of which was a penalty. The Blues are set to face 1. FC Heidenheim in East Württemberg on November 28.
Challenges for Hummels and Werner
In another Europa League match, Mats Hummels sat on the bench throughout AS Roma’s 1-1 draw against Union St. Gilloise in Belgium. Timo Werner, another key player, also found himself out of action as he was not included in the squad for Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-3 loss to Galatasaray Istanbul.
Meanwhile, U21 national striker Youssoufa Moukoko, who played for OGC Nice against Twente Enschede, was substituted at halftime with his team trailing 0-1. However, his absence didn’t deter Nice, as they salvaged a point by coming back from a 0-2 deficit to finish 2-2.
On a different note, national player Robin Gosens experienced his first defeat in the Conference League with AC Florence, losing 1-2 to APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus. Despite a goal from Jonathan Ikone, who scored shortly after Gosens was substituted, the comeback was not enough to change the outcome.
Clashes in Amsterdam
During the Europa League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv, tensions escalated as clashes occurred between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and the police. Approximately 200 protesters attempted to breach a police blockade to reach the stadium, but law enforcement successfully kept them away from the Johan Cruijff Arena. Ajax emerged victorious with a 5-0 win.
Given the expected political sensitivities surrounding the match, enhanced security measures were implemented in parts of Amsterdam. Although a protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza was initially planned near the stadium, the mayor intervened, designating a different location for the rally.
Earlier that day, there were also confrontations between Israeli football fans and the police in the city center, where hundreds of Maccabi supporters gathered at Dam Square and set off fireworks illegally. Reports indicate that around 20 individuals were arrested for public disorder and possession of illegal fireworks, with some altercations occurring between Maccabi fans and pro-Palestinian demonstrators.