Swansea City have recorded a nervy 1-0 victory over St Gallen to maintain their position at the top of Group A.
The home side were stunned by a fast start from the Swiss side, with Swansea stopper Gerhard Tremmel saving a penalty from Goran Karanovic.
St Gallen continued to look the more impressive of the two sides, but the Welsh club took the lead on 52 minutes when Wayne Routledge reacted fastest to score from close range.
Despite coming under pressure from the visitors, Swansea held on for a victory that could prove pivotal as they attempt to progress through to the knockout stages.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Liberty Stadium.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Europa League match between Swansea City and St Gallen.
After Tottenham Hotspur made it two wins of two with an easy triumph over Anzhi Makhachkala, can Swansea City make it a second British success by seeing off St Gallen? If their performance in Valencia is anything to go by, this should be a rout...but it doesn't always work like that, does it?
The team news is in from the Liberty Stadium, and Michael Laudrup has named a strong lineup to take on the Swiss outfit.
SWANSEA CITY XI: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico Flores, Amat, Davies; Britton, De Guzman, Michu, Routledge, Pozuelo; Bony
SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Vorm, Taylor, Shelvey, Dyer, Lamah, Canas, Vazquez
Laudrup has named the majority of his big guns in his lineup to compete against St Gallen this evening, with Jonjo Shelvey the only surprise absentee. Defender Ashley Williams had already been ruled out through injury.
ST GALLEN XI: Lopar; Montandon, Karanovic, Besle, Vitkieviez; Mutsch, Martic, Mathys, Lenjani; Janjatovic, Rodriguez
ST GALLEN SUBSTITUTES: Nushi, Nater, Keita, Wuthrich, Herzog, Demiri, Russo
While Swansea moved to the top of the group with their triumph in Valencia, St Gallen aren't far behind them. The Swiss side battled to a 2-0 win over Russian side Kuban Krasnodar, and looked in fine form in doing so. They are the underdogs tonight, but they are expected to show enough flair to trouble their hosts.
Talking of the other two teams in this group, they have already played this evening, with Valencia seeing off Kuban 2-0. That will go some way to recovering their confidence in Europe after losing to Swansea.
PREDICTION! St Gallen are currently on a 12-match unbeaten run, including a victory in Moscow against Spartak, but Swansea's style looks perfectly suited for the European format, and it would be considered a huge surprise should the Welsh team not record three points. Swansea to win 3-1.
The two teams are convening in the tunnel. It sounds as though they are going to be welcomed by a terrific atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium.
The St Gallen fans have let off a few flares at the Liberty Stadium, and it's provided a picturesque scene in Wales. We are underway.
Lenjani has just delivered an absolute peach of a cross into the penalty area, but none of the St Gallen attackers could react. An early warning side for the home side.
Michu lets go with a powerful effort from 20 yards, but it's straight at Lopar, who does well to deal with an awkward bounce. Lively start.
CHANCE! Jonathan de Guzman scuffs a corner but it somehow finds its way to Michu, who heads over from six yards. It was a sharp opportunity, but the Spanish playmaker should have at least hit the target.
I like the look of this match already. Both sides are looking to play football the right way, and both have an attractive style of play. The St Gallen fans are certainly adding to the occasion as well!
WOODWORK! There was never any danger of this going in, but Michu clips the outside of the post when attempting to keep the ball in on the byline. Swansea are quickly under pressure though, because St Gallen have a corner.
It was a shocking delivery, but De Guzman was forced to block well from a Martic volley. The opening 10 minutes have flown by in South Wales.
PENALTY TO ST GALLEN!
KARANOVIC MISSES!
Dear oh dear. Firstly, Tiendalli is adjudged to have handled the ball, which seemed rather harsh, but Goran Karanovic has made a total mess of the penalty. He attempts to stutter in his run up, but it failed to deceive Tremmel, who had the simple task of diving to his right to catch the ball.
CHANCE! Swansea are all over the place. They concede the ball in midfield, and Matric breaks clear, but he drags his shot wide of Tremmel's post. Michael Laudrup is going ballistic.
Swansea need to take a moment and spend some time on the ball. They are being outplayed on their home turf. St Gallen look as efficient as their Swiss compatriots, Basel.
OUCH! This is horrendous. Tremmel came rushing out for a high ball, but he clattered straight into Karanovic, and the Swiss striker has hit the ground in gut-wrenching fashion. It looked brutal, but thankfully, he is back on his feet.
SAVE! What an incredible save from Lopar to deny Amat. The Spaniard thought his header was heading into the corner, but the goalkeeper has managed to tip the ball onto the post.
It's all happening at the Liberty Stadium, but I'm sorry, I can't type any faster. Michu is taken out in the penalty area, but the referee doesn't deem it worthy of a spot-kick. Blood is pouring from Michu's head. Then up the other end, Martic struck the side-netting with a decent effort from 18 yards.
I don't think the challenge on Michu was intentional, but it's a definite penalty. Apparently, this referee gives dodgy handballs, but not studs in a player's head...
The Swansea physio is trying to apply a bandage to Michu's head, but he's having none of it.
Michu's not being allowed to return to the pitch now because of a speck of blood on his shirt. It's turning into a bit of a joke. Martic tries his luck again for St Gallen, but Tremmel is equal to the task.
Unbelievably, Michu is now being booked for his protests! The referee is having one...unless he's just generally rubbish. Anyway, Michu is back on.
Some excellent news coming from the DW Stadium. Wigan are leading Maribor 2-0. Forget that booking for Michu - he hasn't been given a yellow card. Apparently, the referee was writing down his new shirt number...
I think the St Gallen players have been instructed to try to test Tremmel because they are shooting from all angles. This time, it's Mathys's turn, but he slices his effort and it ends up being closer to the corner flag than the goal.
SHOT! Michu and Bony combine to set up the Ivorian to strike to get a shot away from 18 yards, but it bends wide of the post. There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Swansea City 0-0 St Gallen
As 0-0's go, that was probably one of the most entertaining that you are ever likely to see. It's been a thrilling encounter at the Liberty Stadium.
In truth, Swansea are lucky not to be behind, but they have had their fair share of chances themselves. Karanovic will be getting plenty of criticism for that penalty miss though - there probably won't be a worst spot-kick all season.
Looking at the stats, both sides had nine shots apiece during that first half. Rather more surprisingly, Swansea had 64% of the possession.
The two teams are heading back on to the pitch. Michu looks like he has been standing under a lot of pigeons.
Swansea go straight on the attack, with Pozuelo earning an early corner, but it is easily cleared. St Gallen made a change at the break, with Karanovic being replaced by Keita.
A bit more news on Karanovic. If you remember, he suffered that collision with Tremmel, and it was a surprise to everyone that he managed to stay on the pitch. During the break, he has been asking the St Gallen backroom staff which team the Swiss outfit are playing and whether he missed a penalty - it goes without saying that he is suffering from a concussion.
GOAL! Swansea City 1-0 St Gallen (Routledge)
Swansea have the breakthrough, and it's Wayne Routledge who has the goal. Wilfried Bony managed to get a shot in from an acute angle, and Lopar could only get half a block in, and the ball fell kindly for Routledge who tapped in from no more than a yard.
That goal will be sure to test the mentality of St Gallen. They don't really deserve to be behind. They earn a corner, but it's well cleared by Michu.
The game is returning to how the first half was competed. Swansea break in numbers through Michu, but he is well dispossessed. From the resulting corner, De Guzman tried his luck form 20 yards, but the ball was well held by Lopar.
SUBSTITUTION! There's an hour gone at the Liberty Stadium, and Michael Laudrup is going to make his first alteration. Nathan Dyer is entering the action in place of Wayne Routledge. St Gallen are going to make a change of their own, bringing on Stephane Nater for Roberto Rodriguez.
Swansea earn a free kick on the right, but De Guzman's cross is well headed out by a St Gallen defender. From the corner, Chico attempts the most ambitious of scissor kicks but he gives away a foul.
CHANCE! What a goal that would have been! Keita brings down a high ball with the cutest of touches, but after he wrong-foots a defender, he lobs the ball onto the roof of Tremmel's net.
SUBSTITUTION! Bony is the next man to be taken off by Laudrup, and Alvaro Vasquez is entering the action to make his European debut for the Swans.
EFFORT! That would have been the perfect impact! Vasquez bends his run to avoid being caught offside, and after moving in towards goal, he curled the ball marginally wide of the far corner. Great effort.
SUBSTITUTION! Third and final change for St Gallen, with Daniele Russo coming on for defender Philippe Montandon.
TRIPLE BOOKING! St Gallen have a free kick in a threatening position after Ben Davies brings down Mathys, which also results in a booking for the Welshman. Tremmel claimed the high ball though. Seconds later, Martic cynically takes out Dyer, which earns a yellow card, while Dyer is cautioned for his reaction.
CHANCE! Some terrific play from Swansea sees Davies cross to the back post for Dyer, but his volley is fantastically saved by Lopar.
WOODWORK! Nater comes so close to an equaliser for St Gallen, striking the post with an excellent 30-yard shot.
SUBSTITUTION! Thankfully, this is the last substitution of the match because I'm getting tired of them! Jonjo Shelvey comes on for Pozuelo.
You get the feeling that these final five minutes could potentially be crucial in Swansea's attempts to qualify for the next stage. They don't want to be going to Switzerland in their final fixture requiring a result, which could be the case if they concede a late goal here.
Swansea are living very dangerously! Janjatovic plays the ball through the legs of Chico but his cross is blocked by a last-ditch challenge by Ben Davies. Leon Britton is currently down with cramp.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
Alvaro Vasquez's draws a foul in the middle of the pitch to ease the pressure on his side, but they immediately gift the ball back to their opponents.
FULL TIME: Swansea City 1-0 St Gallen
The final whistle goes, and Swansea have held on for an excellent victory over St Gallen to move three points clear at the top of Group A!
It was far from the perfect performance, but it was enough for Swansea to edge past their opponents, who undoubtedly stunned a few people with their ability. It's certainly not out of the question that they can pick up a result over Valencia.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. I hope you enjoyed the match as much as I did - Swansea are certainly making a name for themselves in Europe! Goodbye for now.
