Stuttgart and Freiburg lose Europa League first legs, Villa win

Twice champions Porto hold the upper hand over VfB Stuttgart after winning 2-1 in their Europa League last 16 first leg in Germany on Thursday.

Freiburg also lost 1-0 at Genk in their first leg in a bad night for the Bundesliga, while there were wins for Aston Villa, Panathinaikos, Midtjylland and Ferencváros.

Porto's Terem Moffi netted after a sharp move and Rodrigo Mora produced a cushioned finish to give the Portuguese outfit a 2-0 advantage inside 27 minutes.

In-form Deniz Undav, hoping to force his way back into Germany's World Cup plans, hooked in for the hosts on 40.

It was the only game of the early kick-offs with goals before the interval and a Porto team including Brazilian veteran defender Thiago Silva, 41, managed to stave off sustained Stuttgart pressure in the second period.

The home side thought they had levelled on 70 through Angelo Stiller but a video review ruled that an offside Tiago Tomás was interfering with play.

Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness said: "Of course we wished for a different result, but I think the tie is still open. Porto have an advantage, but in football everything is possible."

Germany are battling for a fifth Champions League spot next season and Stuttgart and Freiburg's first-leg defeats do not help in the UEFA co-efficients table.

Freiburg had an early goal chalked off for offside in Belgium and they were made to pay when defender Zakaria El Ouahdi smashed in midway through the first half.

Genk defended stoutly in the second half but in truth the Black Forest side laboured to create chances.

Villa and Forest with mixed results

Lyon's on-loan Real Madrid teenager Endrick scored late on for a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo, who went ahead through Javi Rueda but had Borja Iglesias' dismissed on 55.

Robbie Keane's Ferencváros beat Braga 2-0 in Budapest thanks to Israel star Gabi Kanichowsky and Frenchman Lenny Joseph.

The battle of Italy between Bologna and twice runners-up Roma ended 1-1 after Federico Bernardeschi's goal was cancelled out by Giallorossi substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest lost 1-0 at home to Midtjylland of Denmark as South Korean Cho Gue Sung struck 10 minutes from time.

A looping Ollie Watkins header helped Villa end a rough European week for English sides on a high with a 1-0 first-leg success in Lille.

"We played very seriously," Villa boss Unai Emery, who has lifted the trophy four times with Sevilla and Villarreal, told VillaTV.

"We were always organized and we played trying to defend strongly, trying to feel comfortable defending as well, and trying to get some transition with the ball and to dominate with the ball and we did it."

Rafa Benitez's Panathinaikos prevailed 1-0 over Real Betis in Greece despite having Anass Zaroury sent off on the hour.

Vicente Taborda's late penalty made the difference after Diego Llorente received a second booking via video review for a foul in the box.

Braga host their second leg next Wednesday to give northern Portugal's police time to regroup for the Porto clash on Thursday, when the other second legs take place.