Europa League: Watkins gives Villa first-leg advantage
Ferencvaros are in a commanding position in their last-16 first leg tie, Robbie Keane's side dispatching SC Braga in Budapest.
Republic of Ireland international Callum O'Dowda played the full 90 minutes as the Hungarian champions saw off their Portuguese opponents with goals in either half.
Gabi Kanichowsky gave the hosts the lead shortly after the half hour mark, Lenny Joseph doubling the lead and assuring them of victory with 20 minutes remaining.
Ferencvaros, seeking an eighth domestic title on the trot, returned to the top of the league at the weekend on goal difference. Keane, who presided over the 2024-25 title triumph, has recently been linked with the Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic jobs.
Aston Villa came away from Lille with a 1-0 win thanks to Ollie Watkins' goal in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, while Bologna and AS Roma played out a 1-1 draw in the all-Italian clash.
Porto won 2-1 at VfB Stuttgart and Panathinaikos beat Real Betis thanks to a late penalty after playing the final half hour with 10 men.
Ollie Watkins scored the winner against Lille
Watkins netted his first European goal of the season and Villa take a slender lead back home for next Thursday's second leg.
The only shot on target in a cagey opening half came late on with Romain Perraud's effort from distance which Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez failed to hold, but defender Pau Torres was there to clear before Lille could take advantage.
Moments earlier Villa had another escape when Lille striker Olivier Giroud was unable to direct his glancing header goalwards from close range.
Villa took the lead six minutes into the second half when Ezri Konsa sent a long ball forward which Emiliano Buendia headed on for Watkins to send a looping header over the keeper.
Amadou Onana hit a curling shot from outside the area which clipped the top of the upright as Villa pushed for a second, with Martinez making a save at the other end from Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Midtjylland's South Korean forward Cho Gue-sung (l) scored the only goal of the game
Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest suffered another Europa League defeat to Midtjylland after Cho Gue-sung's late header earned the Danish side a 1-0 win at the City Ground in the last-16 first leg.
Forest were aiming to avenge their previous loss to Midtjylland, who came to Nottingham back in October and won 3-2, but were unable to stop history from repeating itself to leave the Reds trailing heading into the return fixture next week.
The home side could not find a way past goalkeeper Elias Rafn Olafsson, who made a string of saves to keep it goalless at the break.
Severe weather conditions in the second half then became an obstacle that both sides had to play through but Midtjylland continued to frustrate the Premier League side, who accumulated 22 shots through the game.
Attacks for the Danish visitors were few and far between but they still posed a threat, and the woodwork came to Forest’s rescue before Cho headed beyond keeper Matz Sels for the all-important winner.
Forest’s last defeat to Midtjylland came under former boss Ange Postecoglou but the recent appointment of Vitor Pereira was unable to stop the same outcome from happening.
The result stretched Forest’s winless run to five games in all competitions as they switch their attention back to their Premier League relegation fight on Sunday with a match against Fulham before trying to change their European fortunes next Thursday in Denmark.
