Havana, November 9 (PL) -- France lived a magical soccer night in the fourth round of the Europa League, with the surprising victory of Toulouse 3-2 over the powerful Liverpool and the numerically disadvantaged victory of leader Rennes 3-1 against Panathinaikos.

In the midst of a pitched battle with the Netherlands for fifth place in the UEFA league standings, which will guarantee three direct Champions League berths from next season onwards, these victories tasted of glory after PSG and Lens fell the previous day in their visits to Milan and Eindhoven, respectively, in the Champions League.

The Toulouse Violets' success deserves to be described as historic, as reflected in the French press, after breaking Liverpool's unbeaten record in Group E thanks to goals from Aron Donnum, Thijs Dallinga and Frank Magri.

Donnum in the 36th minute and Dallinga in the 58th minute sent the Stade de Toulouse into raptures, which was worried in the 73rd minute by Venezuelan Cristian Cásseres' own goal, but Magri restored the breath and put an unimaginable distance, reduced by Diego Jota in the 89th minute, but without affecting the miracle.

Liverpool Reds remain ahead in Group E with nine points, two more than their opponents, while Royale Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium have four, despite losing 3-0 on Thursday to Austrian side LASK, who are bottom with three.

For their part, Rennes consolidated their position at the top of the F section with nine points after defeating Greek side Panathinaikos (four) 3-1 at Roazhon Park in a commendable result.

At their home ground in Brittany, the Red and Blacks took an early lead in the ninth minute thanks to Fabian Rieder's goal, but in the 33rd minute defender Jeanuel Belocian was sent off and visitors Fotis Ioannidis equalized with a penalty.

The Greeks had the ball in the second half, but the goals came from the hosts, from Ibrahim Salah in the 65th and Ludovic Blas from 11 meters in the 70th.

Behind Rennes in Europa League Group F are Spain's Villareal (six points), 2-1 winners over Israel's Maccabi Haifa (one).