Exactly five goals per match on average! That was the summary of the second day of the international junior memorial tournament Mladen Ramljak, where we witnessed attractive encounters, brilliant plays and a festival of goals.

It was a fantastic continuation of the first day of the tournament, which also offered appealing, attacking football with plenty of chances and goals...

The results themselves added an extra dose of excitement and uncertainty ahead of Saturday, the final day of group stage competition. In Group A, Ajax and Hajduk are at the top with identical records - both teams earned four points with the same goal difference of 4:2. Athletic Bilbao follows closely behind with one point less, while Bologna has dropped out of contention... Hajduk and Ajax faced each other in the second round match, with the Split side leading 2:1 until the penultimate minute before the Dutch managed to equalise.

Hajduk took the lead through Toni Ruso in the 10th minute, with Tyrese Teuwsen equalising three minutes later. The Split side regained the advantage in the second half through Ante Bralić's goal in the 52nd minute, before Luca de Baat headed the ball into the net for the equaliser a minute before the end.

In the earlier first match of the day, Athletic Bilbao defeated Bologna 3:2. The Basque side led 2:0 after Adoardo Ballaci scored an own goal in the 11th minute, with Alex Esnaola increasing the lead in the very next attack. Bologna fought back with two penalty goals in the 19th and 28th minutes, both scored by Fernando Maria Passanisi. Athletic's victory was secured by Oscar Aguirre in the 45th minute.

In Group B matches, Benfica and Juventus were first to take the field. In an inspired performance, the Portuguese completely overshadowed their opponents and won 5:0. The goals were scored by Tomas Almeida from the penalty spot in the 16th minute, Ruben Correia in the 18th, Igor Said in the 25th, Joao Silva in the 67th and Afonso Ferreirinha in the 75th. Moreover, Correia hit the crossbar in the first half when leading 3:0. Particularly spectacular was the fourth goal when Joao Silva, following a cross from the left, struck a first-time shot from 18 metres that lobbed the entire defence and goalkeeper.

Similar was the scenario of the second match in the same group, as Dinamo defeated Brugge 5:1. Jona Benkotić surprised the defence as early as the 2nd minute, stealing the ball from the visiting defender in a dangerous area with a high press and placing it into the corner for the lead. Eight minutes later, Luka Radić skilfully found the net from 18 metres following a combination with Kaloyan Bozhkov. Dinamo increased their lead in the 30th minute when Radić escaped his marker on the right flank and played across to Roko Ban on the left. Dinamo's striker received the ball, freed himself from his marker with a dribble and curled it into the goal.

The Blues scored their fourth goal in the 48th minute. Fran Kramarić sent a cutback from the right to about ten metres out, with Ban getting his foot to it to become a double scorer.

The visitors managed to find Dinamo's net ten minutes later when Cedric Broecks sent a through ball that was collected by Matteo Soria, who then beat the goalkeeper on the left side at the edge of the penalty area and scored from an angle. Three minutes later, Radić received the ball near the penalty area, created space for a shot and scored for 5:1, also becoming a double scorer.

Group A, Round 2:

Athletic Bilbao – Bologna 3:2 (1:0 Ballaci 11. - own goal, 2:0 Esnaola 12., 2:1 Passanisi 19. - penalty, 2:2 Passanisi 28. - penalty, 3:2 Aguirre 45.), Hajduk – Ajax 2:2 (1:0 Ruso 10., 1:1 Teuwsen 13., 2:1 Bralić 52., 2:2 De Baat 79.);

Standings: 1. Ajax and Hajduk 4 points each, 3. Athletic Bilbao 3, 4. Bologna 0;

Round 3 fixtures, Saturday: Ajax – Bologna (9:00), Hajduk – Athletic Bilbao (10:45);

Group B, Round 2:

Benfica – Juventus 5:0 (1:0 Almeida 16. - penalty, 2:0 Correia 18., 3:0 Said 25., 4:0 Joao Silva 67., 5:0 Ferreirinha 75.), Dinamo – Brugge 5:1 (1:0 Benkotić 2., 2:0 Radić 10., 3:0 Ban 30., 4:0 Ban 48., 4:1 Soria 58., 5:1 Radić 61.);

Standings: 1. Benfica 4, 2. Dinamo 3, 3. Juventus 3, 4. Brugge 1;

Round 3 fixtures, Saturday: Dinamo – Benfica (17:30), Juventus – Brugge (19:15)