Juventus surrendered their perfect start to the UEFA Europa League campaign after being held to a 2–2 draw by Rennes on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The result ended Juventus’ winning run in the competition, while Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen continued their strong performances with victories in their respective matches.
The third round of league-phase fixtures produced several important results, with clubs competing to improve their positions before the next round of matches in November.
According to Reuters and UEFA, Juventus had to recover after falling behind twice against Rennes. The Italian side eventually secured a point through Nick Woltemade’s second-half penalty, avoiding another disappointing result following their recent domestic defeat to Lazio.
Rennes Take the Initiative
Rennes made a strong start to the contest, opening the scoring in the fifth minute through Zeki Celik. Juventus responded through Musa Al-Taamari, who brought Rennes level with an equaliser.
The French side regained the lead shortly before half-time when Boulaye Dia converted a penalty. The goal put Juventus under pressure as they entered the interval needing to improve their performance to avoid defeat on home soil.
Juventus returned for the second half determined to find a way back into the contest. Their efforts eventually produced another opportunity from the penalty spot, which Woltemade converted in the 67th minute to make it 2–2.
Juventus continued looking for a winning goal, and Jhon Lucumi appeared to have scored late in the match. However, the goal was ruled out for offside, allowing Rennes to escape with a draw.
The result gave both clubs a point, although Juventus were left to consider the missed opportunity to maintain their winning record.
Benfica Produce Impressive Victory
Benfica delivered one of the standout performances of the round by defeating Omonia 4–1 in Cyprus.
The Portuguese club’s attacking performance helped them strengthen their position in the competition and move to the top of the standings after the latest round of matches.
Benfica’s result was particularly significant because consistency is important in the Europa League’s league-phase format. Clubs must accumulate points across several matches to secure favourable positions before the knockout stages.
Their victory also demonstrated the strength of the competition, with established European clubs competing alongside emerging sides for qualification.
Omonia, meanwhile, will need to respond in their subsequent fixtures if they are to improve their position and remain competitive in the league phase.
Leverkusen Maintain Their Winning Run
Bayer Leverkusen also enjoyed a successful evening, defeating OFI Crete 2–0 away from home.
Jonas Hofmann scored both goals within a three-minute period, giving Leverkusen the advantage they needed to secure all three points.
The victory maintained Leverkusen’s perfect record in the competition at that stage and reinforced their position among the teams performing strongly in the league phase.
Winning away from home can be particularly valuable in European competition, where travelling teams often face difficult conditions and opponents determined to protect their home advantage.
Leverkusen’s ability to secure the result without conceding also provided a positive outcome for the German side.
What the Results Mean for the Competition
The results underline the importance of consistency as the Europa League league phase continues.
Juventus will need to regain their winning form in the next round, while Rennes can take encouragement from earning a draw away from home against a major European opponent.
Benfica and Leverkusen, on the other hand, strengthened their campaigns by collecting maximum points. Their performances could prove important as the standings develop and clubs begin calculating the points needed to qualify for the next stage.
The competition is scheduled to resume for Matchday 4 on November 5, 2026. Clubs will have an opportunity to correct weaknesses, manage player fitness and prepare for another demanding round of European fixtures.
For supporters, the latest results provide a reminder that established reputations alone do not guarantee success. Teams must convert opportunities, defend effectively and maintain concentration throughout their matches.
With several rounds still to come, the race for qualification remains open, and the performances of Juventus, Benfica, Leverkusen and Rennes will be closely watched as the competition progresses.
