MADRID, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Three Spanish sides fared well in Europe on Thursday with Celta Vigo and Real Betis winning in the UEFA Europa League, while Rayo Vallecano also began the league phase of the Conference League with a comfortable victory.
Celta came back from a goal down to win 3-1 at home to PAOK Salonika, with Iago Aspas, Borja Iglesias and Williot Swedberg netting three goals in 25 minutes after Giorgos Giakoumakis had given PAOK a 37th-minute lead.
Elsewhere, Giovani Lo Celso helped Betis claim a 2-0 win away to Bulgarian side Ludogorets.
The Argentine midfielder opened the scoring in the 31st minute with an excellent curling shot, and luck was on Betis' side after 53 minutes when Junior Firpo's shot deflected into the net.
Rodrigo Riquelme could have scored a third for Betis, who played on the break in the closing minutes as Ludogorets searched in vain for an equalizer.
Rayo Vallecano kicked off its Conference League campaign with a 2-0 home win over North Macedonian side KF Shkendija thanks to goals from Unai Lopez and Fran Perez inside the first 30 minutes.
Both goals came with relatively simple finishes from Alvaro Garcia passes on Rayo's left wing, and the Madrid side might have scored more after completely dominating and managing 21 shots to just one from Shkendija. ■
