Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton's first foray into European knockout competition looks set to end after a first-leg thumping at a resurgent Roma side which leaves them looking unlikely to reach the Europa League quarter-finals.

Two Seagulls defensive errors in an entertaining first half did the damage before Roma took full control after the break.

The hosts took an early lead when Paulo Dybala slotted in the first after Brighton were undone by a long, straight pass from Leandro Paredes.

Albion gradually grew into the game, hitting the post through Simon Adingra's deflected cross while Danny Welbeck forced an instinctive save from Roma keeper Mile Svilar.

But they fell further behind when Lewis Dunk's poor touch was pounced on and punished by Romelu Lukaku just before half-time.

Brighton continued to play boldly and bravely after the break as they searched for a way back into the game.

However, they were hit by a sucker punch when Gianluca Mancini slid in a third, and quickly conceded again through Bryan Cristante's header.

Roberto de Zerbi's side continued to try and salvage something to take back to the Amex Stadium, but were unable to narrow the deficit before the second leg next Thursday (14 March).

Half-time and little to get excited about. Jarrod Bowen has shot at the keeper, as has Lucas Holer for Freiburg.

That's about it.

Some good news for Liverpool fans.

Boss Jurgen Klopp says Ibrahima Konate's substitution was just 'precautionary'.

He has also said two-goal scorer Darwin Nunez "is not at his peak yet. He can improve".

Not much in the way of goalscoring chances so far. Just the one shot on target for both sides, with them being routine work for the respective keepers.

Freiburg's Ritsu Doan goes down just outside the penalty area, but referee Alejandro Hernandez is not convinced and rightly so as there was minimal, if any, contact from West Ham's Konstantinos Mavropanos.

It's warming up. Lucas Holer shoots at Lukasz Fabianski at one end and then Jarrod Bowen fails to connect cleanly with a volley at the back post down the other end.

Lucas Paqueta and then Kurt Zouma give the ball away to the hosts and it falls to Roland Sallai, but he drags a tame effort across the face of goal and West Ham aren't punished for some careless play.

A cross from deep for Freiburg, but West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi displays some solid handling to wipe out any danger.

A one-touch move sees Jarrod Bowen flick the ball into Mohammed Kudus' path, but the attempt is a bit optimistic and high and wide it goes.

Freiburg's Maximilian Eggestein has a lot of defenders standing in front of him, but still tries his luck from 25 yards out. But he's nowhere near good enough to beat Lukasz Fabianski from there and it is miles over the top.

Jarrod Bowen takes on Kiliann Sildillia on the left side of the penalty area and from a tight angle fires a shot straight at Noah Atubolu, when a pass to Mohammed Kudus may have been the better option.

But it's West Ham's first effort on target.

A great start for Rangers as Tom Lawrence gives them an early lead at Benfica.

You can follow that live here

Elsewhere in the Europa League, Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen produced a fine fightback to draw 2-2 against Qarabag in Azerbaijan.

Qarabag were two up in the first half, before goals from Florian Wirtz and a 92nd-minute equaliser from Patrik Shick left it all square before the second leg in Germany.

Mohammed Kudus crosses from deep on the right and forces a first corner of the night for West Ham. James Ward-Prowse trots over to take it...

But Tomas Soucek concedes a foul from the set piece to end the threat.

Image source, Getty Images

Vladimir Coufal makes a crucial block in his own penalty area inside the opening 60 seconds, before a vital header at the near post from Mohammed Kudus from the following corner.

Under way in Germany.

A very mixed night for British clubs so far tonight. Liverpool convincing winners, Aston Villa drawing away at Ajax, Brighton thrashed at Roma.

What have West Ham got for us?

If you want to follow Benfica versus Rangers, then click here.

Freiburg were twice beaten by West Ham in the group stage but held Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Boss Christian Streich said: “West Ham are an exceptionally good team, one of the six best in the Premier League and that says it all.

“It’s important we don’t allow ourselves to be pushed back, that we play our own game and that we are courageous, like against Bayern.

“It’s important we don’t allow ourselves to be intimidated. We also have experience and quality.”

Brighton’s 0-4 defeat tonight was the heaviest suffered by an English side in Europe since October 2019, when Tottenham Hotspur were beaten by five goals against Bayern Munich in the Champions League (2-7).

West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse is looking forward to his first taste of knockout football in Europe.

“As a player you want to play in the best competitions,” said the summer signing from Southampton. "For me, it’s good to get to this stage but as a club we’re aiming higher and hopefully we can keep going on this run.

“I’ve really enjoyed the start of my career at West Ham. I think it helped joining with the momentum of the Europa Conference League win and it’s been an honour so far.”

The 29-year-old hopes his form for West Ham can earn him an England recall with Euro 2024 on the horizon.

“England is always in the back of my mind,” he added. “I’ve been in and out over the last few years but the only thing that’s going to get me in there is playing regularly and to a very high level.

“I’ll keep working hard and hopefully that call will come.”