Contrasting fortunes for Győr and Fradi in European play-off first legs

Győr pulled off the result of the European week from a Hungarian perspective, exciting attacker Zeljko Gavric's brace of goals putting paid to Austrian club Rapid Wien's attempts to gain a first-leg advantage. 

Home advantage certainly helped Győr, who attacked with verve throughout and withstood Rapid's pressure when the visitors, Conference League quarter-finalists last season, inevitavbly enjoyed dominant periods in the game.

Gavric initially broke the deadlock in the first minute of the second half when he arrived perfectly in time to convert a left-wing cross, but Rapid recovered quickly and equalised just after the hour mark through Nikolaus Wurmbrand. 

Győr were not to be denied a famous victory though and up stepped Gavric to provide the moment of the night, cutting in from the left channel and unleashing a right-foot piledriver towards the top-left corner of the goal, which left the Rapid goalkeeper with no chance. The hosts preserved their lead without any major problems, meaning they'll take a 2-1 lead to Austria for the second leg next week as they aim to secure safe passage to the Conference Leage group stage.

Elsewhere, it was an evening to forget for Ferencváros from the moment Hungary international striker Barnabás Varga gave them a first-half lead at home in their Champions League play-off first leg on Tuesday. Qarabag hit back with three, unanswered, second-half goals to take away a valuable 3-1 advantage ahead of the second leg in Azerbaijan next week