Thursday 25 August 2016 00:14, UK
Thorgan Hazard and Raffael both scored hat-tricks as Borussia Monchengladbach eased into the Champions League group stage with a 9-2 aggregate victory over Swiss side Young Boys.
Bundesliga club Monchengladbach, leading 3-1 from the first leg in Bern, never looked in danger of exiting the competition as Hazard's opener and two quick-fire goals from Brazilian Raffael gave them a 3-0 advantage at the break.
Belgian Hazard tapped home Raffael's centre to extend the lead before the latter completed his treble from close range to put Young Boys to the sword.
An unstoppable free-kick from French forward Yoric Ravet pulled one back for the visitors but Hazard had the final say as he turned in a pass from substitute Julian Korb.
Four-time European champions Ajax were the most high-profile casualty on Wednesday evening as they were condemned to the Europa League by a 5-2 aggregate defeat by Rostov.
The Eredvisie runners-up, who last lifted the trophy in 1994, travelled to Russia level at 1-1 but fell behind to an opener from Iran international Sardar Azmoun.
Aleksandr Yerokhin's goal helped Rostov take control before Christian Noboa and Dmitry Poloz put Dmitri Kirichenko's team out of sight.
There was still time for Ajax captain Davy Klaassen to pull one back from the penalty spot after Fedor Kudryashov was dismissed for bringing down substitute Kasper Dolberg but the hosts were convincing winners.
A dramatic extra-time winner from El Arabi Hilal Soudani ensured Dinamo Zagreb's place in Europe's top competition at the expense of Austrians Red Bull Salzburg.
Salzburg looked to be heading through after Austria international Valentino Lazaro lashed them into a 2-1 aggregate lead with a spectacular strike off the woodwork,
Chilean forward Junior Fernandes had other ideas though and silenced the home crowd by finishing at the back post in the 87th minute after good work by substitute Gordon Schildenfeld to force an additional 30 minutes.
Algerian forward Soudani then settled the tie five minutes into extra-time, nodding home at the second attempt after his initial effort was kept out by the Salzburg keeper Alexander Walke.
Elsewhere, FC Copenhagen needed a late goal to edge past Cypriots Apoel Nicosia.
Paraguayan Federico Santander scored four minutes from time to cancel out Pieros Sotiriou's 69th-minute opener and send the Danish champions through 2-1 on aggregate.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City were, of course, the other team to confirm their place in Thursday's Champions League group stage draw after they beat Steaua Bucharest.
