Pankritio Stadium had reason to roar on Friday night as OFI Crete beat TSG Hoffenheim 2-0 in the Europa League. The Greek side dictated the contest from start to finish, and neither Hoffenheim's travelling support nor the Bundesliga club's reputation could stop the hosts from taking a full three points.
OFI never let Hoffenheim settle. The German visitors struggled to create clear openings and left Crete without a goal to show for the trip. For OFI, the result is a statement result in continental competition, the kind of night that gives a squad belief it belongs on this stage.
Beşiktaş put four past Marseille
Elsewhere in the Europa League, Beşiktaş JK produced the biggest scoreline of the night, thrashing Olympique de Marseille 4-1 at home. The Turkish side were ruthless in front of goal, and Marseille's single reply did little to change the complexion of a one-sided evening.
Crystal Palace were almost as emphatic, seeing off Lech Poznań 4-0. It was a comfortable night for the Eagles, who controlled the game and never looked troubled by their Polish opponents.
Narrow margins elsewhere
Not every result was as clear cut. Red Bull Salzburg edged out Levski Sofia 1-0 on the road, a tight affair settled by a single goal. Bournemouth came from behind to beat Real Sociedad 2-1, overturning the Spanish side in what looked like a tense finish. Torreense also had to work for their win, beating Lillestrøm SK 2-1 away from home.
Across the six Europa League fixtures played, only OFI Crete and Crystal Palace kept clean sheets, with OFI's win over Hoffenheim standing out as the result of the night given the visitors' pedigree.