Panathinaikos beat Fiorentina 3-2 in the pick of Thursday night’s Uefa Conference League last-16 ties. The Greek side have never won a major European honour – losing the 1971 European Cup final to Ajax at Wembley – but kept themselves in the hunt with a fine win against the Italian side. Fiorentina have lost the last two Conference League finals and went 2-0 down early on thanks to goals from Karol Swiderski and Nemanja Maksimovic.
But Lucas Beltran and then Nicolo Fagioli responded to level up before the 25-minute mark, only for former Leicester forward Tete to find the winner. Chelsea would play Molde or Legia Warsaw if they come through their tie with Copenhagen, and the Norwegian side have the advantage after winning 3-2.
On-loan Manchester United winger Antony was impressive again in Real Betis’ entertaining 2-2 draw with Vitoria, while European debutants Pafos of Cyprus beat Djurgarden 1-0. The second legs of all ties will be played next Thursday night. Conference League results Pafos 1-0 Djurgarden Borac 1-1 Rapid Vienna CM Celje 1-0 Lugano Copenhagen 1-2 Chelsea Jagiellonia Bialystock 3-0 Cercle Brugge Molde 3-2 Legia Warsaw Panathinaikos 3-2 Fiorentina Real Betis 2-2 Vitoria