Home wins for Beşiktaş and Aris

Beşiktaş JK and Aris Thessaloniki FC gained first-leg leads after home wins in their UEFA Europa League play-off ties, although the Turkish side enjoyed a more comfortable route to victory than their Greek counterparts.

The Istanbul club ran out 2-0 victors against HJK Helsinki, who are bidding to reach the group stage of a UEFA competition for the first time since 1998/99. Beşiktaş opened the scoring in the 35th minute through Roberto Hilbert, doubling their advantage midway through the second half when summer signing Ricardo Quaresma struck. It was the Portuguese winger's second goal in as many games in the competition, leaving the Finnish champions with it all to do in the return on 26 August.

In contrast, Aris had to wait until the third minute of added time before securing a slender lead against FK Austria Wien. Second-half substitute Carlos Ruiz was the Greek side's matchwinner, giving Hector Cúper's outfit a narrow advantage to take to Vienna next week.