Manchester United’s hopes of salvaging their season in the Europa League suffered a stinging setback when they lost 2-1 at Danish side Midtjylland in the first leg of their last-32 clash yesterday.

With the triple European Cup winners already immersed in a pall of gloom after a hugely underwhelming campaign, their best hope of returning to the Champions League next season is now in peril.

Borussia Dortmund and holders Sevilla were among the high-profile clubs to secure comfortable wins as the Europa League’s knockout stages got underway but United were undone in the 77th minute by a goal from Paul Onuachu.

The substitute pinched the ball after a half-hearted challenge from Juan Mata on the edge of the area and swivelled before firing home a low bouncing drive to earn the Danes victory.

United had started positively and went ahead in the 37th minute with a scrappy goal from Memphis Depay.

The advantage was cancelled out a minute before half-time when Pione Sisto pounced on a mistake from Michael Carrick and scored with a low shot.

Sevilla’s grip on the trophy showed no sign of loosening as their bid for a third straight triumph began with a 3-0 victory at home to Norway’s Molde.

Fernando Llorente netted twice for the holders who, like United, were playing their first game in this season’s competition having dropped into it after failing to reach the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

Sevilla opened the scoring against Molde when Llorente fired a pinpoint effort into the net off the post 10 minutes before halftime.

The Spain striker doubled his tally when he held off his marker and blasted the ball into the roof of the net four minutes after the restart. Kevin Gameiro made it 3-0 by driving the ball beneath the Molde keeper.

Fellow Spaniards Villarreal will also defend a first-leg lead after beating Napoli 1-0 at El Madrigal.

Denis Suarez came up with the decisive moment when his dipping free-kick beat goalkeeper Pepe Reina via the underside of the crossbar.

Dortmund recorded a 2-0 win at home to Porto on a night when the fixture list had an alluring look.

So often derided as a poor cousin of the Champions League, Europe’s second tier competition returned with a high-profile lineup including five former European Cup winners.

Spurs, Viola level

Tottenham and Fiorentina will meet at White Hart Lane next week with the tie nicely poised at 1-1.

Nacer Chadli put Spurs ahead with a dubious 37th-minute penalty after Ben Davies went down in the box following minimal contact from Nenad Tomovic.

But Federico Bernardeschi’s deflected second-half effort raised Fiorentina hopes that they can repeat their Europa League success over Spurs 12 months ago.

St Etienne beat Basel 3-2 and Anderlecht downed Olympiakos Piraeus 1-0 in the remaining early matches.

Former European champions Liverpool could only manage a goalless draw against German side Augsburg but will fancy their chances of progressing with the return leg at Anfield next week.

Galatasaray and Lazio played out a 1-1 draw in Istanbul.

The Turks were ahead on 12 minutes when Sabri Sarioglu slotted home from 12 yards.

However, Lazio equalised in the 21st minute when Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic headed in at the far post following a free-kick.

Last 32, first legs

Anderlecht vs Olympiakos - 1-0
B. Dortmund vs FC Porto - 2-0
Midtjylland vs Man. United - 2-1
Fiorentina vs Tottenham - 1-1
Saint-Etienne vs Basel - 3-2
Sevilla vs Molde - 3-0
Villarreal vs Napoli - 1-0
Augsburg vs Liverpool - 0-0
Galatasaray vs Lazio - 1-1
Marseille vs Athletic Bilbao - 0-1
S. Donetsk vs Schalke - 0-0
Sion vs Braga - 1-2
Sparta Prague vs Krasnodar - 1-0
Sporting vs B. Leverkusen - 0-1
Valencia vs Rapid Vienna - 6-0

Second legs – February 24/25.