Mainaklot: West Ham v Olympiakos, Rangers v Sparta Prague and more: Europa League

Freiburg lead TSC 3-0 in Germany, so West Ham could really use a goal to keep pace at the top of Group A. They’re enjoying their best spell since half-time, but are still struggling to break the opposing defence down.

Goals elsewhere: Betis lead Aris Limassol 2-0 through Aitor Ruibal; Berat Djimsiti has put Atalanta a goal up at home to Sturm Graz; and in the Confro, Gent have turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead at Icelandic outfit Breidablik.

Oof! West Ham’s best chance of the second half so far falls to Ward-Prowse, who shoots first-time from Bowen’s cutback, but sends it straight at the keeper.

Diego Carlos heads home a corner that shouldn’t have been given – a decision VAR can’t review, but one which is hard to accept for the visiting defenders.

Let’s check in at Ibrox, where Qazim Laci – one of three second-half Sparta substitutes – sends an awkward diving header wide. At Villa Park, Boubacar Kamara skews his shot over the bar – but the hosts get a corner! Can you guess what happens next?

Olympiakos are causing West Ham more problems in the second half, a higher press forcing mistakes, particularly from Paqueta. Freiburg now lead TSC 2-0 in Group A’s other game.

Villa were caught completely cold there, and unexpectedly find themselves behind to a team they beat 4-1 away from home two weeks ago. Much like against Forest on Sunday, their attacking play has not hit anything like top gear yet.

Vangelis Pavlidis beats the offside trap to race on to Bazoer’s long ball, takes a touch, draws Martínez off his line and lifts the ball into the net! There’s a VAR check but the striker was just onside.

AZ Alkmaar’s Vangelis Pavlidis scores opens the scoring against Aston Villa.

John McGinn tries to dance his way through the AZ defence but is eventually penalised. From the free kick, AZ break downfield …

Remember, under the new format in place since the Conference League was introduced, the team that tops their Europa League gets a bye to the last 16, whereas the runners-up have to play a Champions League third-placed team in the play-off round. So it’s definitely worthwhile trying to win your group.

Aris Limassol have levelled in Seville, Leo Bengtsson with the goal – actually, scratch that, it’s offside. The score stays Betis 1-0 Aris. Guardian clockwatchers: the real victims of VAR interference.

Back under way at Ibrox, the players heading out at Villa Park and the London Stadium. Lucas Paqueta, who looked to be limping at the end of the first half, is OK to continue.

The hosts have had the better of a forgettable first half, but are yet to make the breakthrough.

Other half-time scores in the Conference League: Breidablik 2-1 Gent, Club Brugge 0-0 Lugano, Ludogorets 1-0 Fenerbahce, Olimpija Ljubljana 0-0 Klaksvik, Slovan Bratislava 0-0 Lille, Zorya Luhansk 0-3 Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Both sides have had a goal ruled out for offside in a low-key Conference League contest at Villa Park.

Other half-time scores in the Europa League: AEK 0-1 Marseille, Atalanta 0-0 Sturm Graz, Betis 1-0 Aris, Freiburg 1-0 TSC, Hacken 0-2 Molde, Sporting 1-0 Rakow.

Rangers in control at the break thanks to goals from Danilo Pereira and Todd Cantwell. The only complaint the home fans could have is that it might have been more.

Yukinari Sugawara goes close with a long-range shot that flashes wide of Emi Martínez’s far post. Two minutes of stoppage time here …

No goal! Having sat back for most of the first half, AZ get forward and a clever passing move sets up Sven Mijnans to tap home … but the flag is up, and rightly so.

Ward-Prowse takes the free-kick from distance and opts to clip in a cross that Olympiakos deal with easily enough. At Ibrox, Cantwell is at it again, bustling down the right and forcing Peter Vinahl to save well with his feet.

In Brighton’s group, Marseille are back on top with a 1-0 lead at AEK Athens. Chancel Mbemba, once of Newcastle, has headed the French side in front from a corner.

Marseille's Chancel Mbemba celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates at AEK Athens.

James Tavernier goes mighty close for Rangers with a curling free kick from some 30 yards out. Back at West Ham, Emerson’s dribble is ended in clumsy fashion by Podence, who is booked.

A warning for West Ham as Daniel Podence, on loan from Wolves, sends an awkward spinning volley wide. At Villa Park, the camera picks out a supporter wearing a giant pug-head balaclava. The highlight of the half, for me.

Rangers are stroking the ball around and looking untroubled at Ibrox. In the group’s other game, Betis now lead Aris 1-0, Borja Iglesias with the goal.

Benrahma’s well-struck low shot is palmed wide at the near post, and West Ham get a corner. Bowen’s header is deflected away but from another corner, Aguerd sends his downward header wide. Olympiakos really need to start marking him.

Villa are trying to dribble, pass or cross their way beyond a mass low block in front of them, fanning out across the edge of the area. They win a corner which is cleared away – still goalless in that game.

Paqueta plays the ball out wide to Kudus but the ball is intercepted. The assistant flags to indicate the ball went out off the West Ham winger, who reacts angrily and earns a pointless booking.

Here’s more on a lively contest between Toulouse and Liverpool:

At Villa Park, Lucas Digne almost turns a long-range header into the net after Ryan flaps at a cross. At the London Stadium, Aguerd sends a closer-range header over the bar.

West Ham United's Nayef Aguerd goes close with a header in the first half against Olympiakos.

West Ham continue to make most of the running without testing the Olympiakos defence too much. In the other Group A fixture, Freiburg lead TSC thanks to some Merlin Rohl magic.

Rangers’ flying start continues as Todd Cantwell is given too much space once again, and this time picks out the far corner with a fine finish.

Todd Cantwell of Rangers celebrates after scoring the team's second goal against Sparta Prague.

That Rangers goal has edged them to the top of Group C, with Real Betis currently being held at home by Aris Limassol. Early days, though. At Villa Park, Tielemans is denied by a sprawling save from Mat Ryan in the AZ goal.

Here’s our report from Ajax 0-2 Brighton, where Ansu Fati was on target again:

Cantwell goes close again with an acrobatic effort, while Olympiakos are grateful to keeper Alex Paschalakis, who has saved from Benrahma’s shot and Aguerd’s header in short order.

Rangers lead! Danilo pounces on some defensive hesitancy, races through on goal and slots into the corner. Big goal!

Danilo of Rangers opens the scoring against Sparta Prague.

Rangers' Danilo celebrates scoring their first goal against Sparta Prague.

“Good to see Aberdeen getting a mention in the MBM, but how come the Guardian is not publishing Europa Conference League tables,” asks Ludovic Lemaignen.

Apologies – we do have live scores functionality, so it may be a technical issue. I can inform you, however, that Aberdeen are in third place, have two points and can’t catch Frankfurt in second place with nine. Sorry.

A penalty appeal from Olympiakos after a corner rebounds somewhere in the vague vicinity of Lucas Paqueta’s arm. No dice. In the Conference League, Maccabi Tel Aviv lead Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk in a match being played in Lublin, Poland.

Rangers go close, Todd Cantwell whipping a cross-shot that misses both the far post and the masked Danilo, who was skidding in to try and connect. Benrahma has sent an early effort wide at the London Stadium.

No goal! It looked like Villa had taken the lead, Clément Lenglet heading home after Ollie Watkins’ header was cleared off the line – but it’s ruled out for offside by the buzzkill in the VAR booth.

Thanks, Scott. Plenty o’ drama in those early kick-offs. Let’s take a quick look at some of the other results…

Rennes are top of Group F and close to qualifying after a 3-1 home win over Panathinaikos. Villarreal are in second after coming from behind to win 2-1 over Maccabi Haifa, Alexander Sørloth netting a late winner in a rearranged game played in Cyprus.

Slavia Prague have overtaken Roma at the top of Group G after beating José Mourinho’s side 2-0. Leverkusen are through as Group H winners after Victor Boniface got a late winner against Qarabag.

In the Conference League, Besiktas are heading for an early European exit after losing 2-1 at home to Bodø/Glimt. Legia Warsaw move above Aston Villa in Group E with a 2-0 home win over Zrinjski, while Fiorentina earned a 1-0 victory at Cukaricki.

… and with that, I’ll tap out. Niall McVeigh will bring it home!

Brighton top Group B, for a couple of hours at least …

… while Group E is suddenly much closer than Jurgen Klopp would like.

What an ending! Liverpool won’t be happy with the hand-ball decision … Jurgen Klopp has a short conversation with the ref … but there’s no question Toulouse were deserving of their victory.

The goal is chalked off! A handball by Mac Allister! The referee had pointed to the centre spot for the goal, only to be re-routed to the VAR screen. Earlier in the move, Mac Allister had chested a loose ball down, only for it to scrape the inside of his arm. Right on the t-shirt line! As close as you like, but it’s a call that could go either way, and it doesn’t go for Liverpool.

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister appeals to referee Georgi Kabakov as they wait for VAR decision before a goal scored by Liverpool's Jarell Quansah is disallowed.

Liverpool's Jarell Quansah looks dejected after his goal is disallowed following a referral to VAR.

The Dons are out despite an impressive, hard-fought draw in Greece. Eintracht Frankfurt’s 1-0 win in Helsinki means they are seven points clear of Aberdeen in second.

The ball bounces around the Toulouse box. Bedlam! It breaks to Quansah on the penalty spot. He slams home and Toulouse are heartbroken!