The UEFA Conference League second qualifying round got underway this week, with first-leg ties taking place across Europe on Tuesday and Wednesday. While several favourites secured positive results, there were also a handful of surprise performances as clubs battled for an early advantage.

One of the standout names in the round, Sporting Braga, were made to work hard for a narrow 1-0 victory away to Zeljeznicar Pancevo in Serbia.

The Portuguese side, competing in the Conference League after missing out on the UEFA Europa League for the first time in 12 years, entered the tie as overwhelming favourites. However, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities and needed a solitary goal from just four shots on target to edge the opening leg.

Braga will now look to finish the job in front of their home supporters when the two sides meet again next Thursday.

Another fancied side, Istanbul Basaksehir, also endured a frustrating evening after being held to a 1-1 draw by Finnish outfit Inter Turku.

The visitors stunned the Turkish side by taking an early lead through Clinton Jephta, raising hopes of a major upset. Emin Bayram restored parity shortly after the restart, but Basaksehir were unable to find a winner, extending their winless run at home in European competition to three matches.

Elsewhere, Riga FC bounced back from their recent UEFA Champions League disappointment by claiming a thrilling 3-2 victory over Vardar.

The contest swung from end to end, with both teams leading before the North Macedonian champions levelled midway through the second half. However, Iago Siqueira struck his second goal of the night to hand the Latvian side a crucial first-leg advantage.

The result also preserved Riga’s perfect European record against clubs from North Macedonia.

Dinamo Minsk complete stunning comeback in Azerbaijan

One of the night’s most dramatic matches came in Baku, where Dinamo Minsk recovered from a nightmare start to defeat Neftci 4-2.

The hosts raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening eight minutes, scoring twice in a blistering start at the Palms Sports Arena. However, the Belarusian champions responded before half-time to reduce the deficit and carried that momentum into the second period.

Goals from Evgeniy Malashevich and Karen Vardanyan completed the comeback before Guljigit Alykulov sealed victory by converting the rebound after seeing his penalty initially saved.

The defeat was particularly significant as it marked the first European loss suffered by an Azerbaijani club this season, following seven victories recorded by the nation’s other representatives.

Elsewhere, Bohemians claimed an important 2-1 win over Ballkani, taking a slender advantage into next week’s return leg in Kosovo.

In Slovakia, Spartak Trnava and CSKA 1948 Sofia could not be separated, playing out a goalless draw that leaves everything to play for in the second leg.

Goals galore as qualifying gets underway

Tuesday’s opening fixtures also produced plenty of entertainment, highlighted by an eight-goal thriller in Luxembourg.

Hungarian side Gyori ETO put one foot into the next round with an emphatic 6-2 victory over Atert Bissen, with five different players finding the back of the net in a dominant attacking display.

Meanwhile, FCI Levadia Tallinn earned an impressive 2-1 away victory against IFK Goteborg, giving the Estonian champions the upper hand heading into the return fixture.

There was also late drama between Floriana and Drita, with both teams scoring in stoppage time to settle for an entertaining 1-1 draw.

The second qualifying round continues on Thursday, with the remaining 40 first-leg fixtures set to take place. Several European heavyweights enter the competition, including Ajax, Partizan Belgrade, FC Kobenhavn, Rapid Wien, Austria Wien, and Gent, as the race for a place in the league phase gathers momentum.