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Tag: Europa LEague highlights

  • Europa League remaining: Watch Frankfurt beat Rangers in shootout to carry the title

    Eintracht Frankfurt’s 42-year look ahead to a European trophy is over.

    The German membership ended its title drought with a penalty shootout win over Rangers within the Europa League remaining on Wednesday.

    Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp got here up with a giant save on the finish of additional time and one other within the shootout to assist in giving Frankfurt the 5-4 win on penalties. The recreation ended 1-1 after regulation and further time.

    Colombia striker Rafael Borré, who scored a second-half equalizer for Frankfurt, transformed the decisive penalty to clinch the membership’s first European trophy because the 1980 UEFA Cup, a predecessor to the Europa League. The win additionally secures a primary look within the Champions League subsequent season for Frankfurt.

    “It feels incredible,” Trapp mentioned. “I’m trying to catch my breath still. For us, for Frankfurt, for the region. For the whole of Germany I think it’s a wonderful thing. To be able to give back to our fans this way is so special.”

    Trapp, a former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, made a key save within the remaining minutes of additional time by stretching out a leg to cease a close-range shot by Ryan Kent. The veteran goalkeeper used his left leg to cease Aaron Ramsey’s penalty within the shootout, setting off big celebrations by Frankfurt’s “white wall” of followers behind the alternative objective.

    There have been additionally wild celebrations again in Germany as Frankfurt followers packed the membership’s stadium to look at a telecast of the ultimate.

    Joe Aribo gave Rangers the lead within the 57th minute and Borré equalized within the 69th for Frankfurt, which turned the third group to undergo the Europa League unbeaten after Chelsea in 2019 and Villarreal in 2021.

    Ramsey, the previous Arsenal and Juventus midfielder, entered the match within the remaining minutes of additional time to be within the shootout. Christopher Lenz, Ajdin Hrustic, Daichi Kamada and Filip Kostic additionally transformed penalties for Frankfurt, whereas James Tavernier, Steven Davis, Scott Airfield and Kemar Roofe discovered the online for Rangers within the shootout.

    “It’s the small margins when you get to this stage of competitions,” Rangers captain Tavernier mentioned. “It was in our own hands but we conceded that goal and then Trapp makes a great save from Ryan Kent. Then he makes the save in the shootout and we are all just devastated.”

    Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst mentioned Kent’s miss made the distinction.

    “You have to score those, especially in the last minutes,” he mentioned.

    Rangers was attempting to win its first European title because the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972. The Scottish membership additionally misplaced to Zenit St. Petersburg within the 2008 UEFA Cup. It was attempting to cap a comeback 10 years after it was despatched to the decrease divisions due to a monetary meltdown.

    “It’s going to be a sore one to take,” Rangers midfielder Davis mentioned. “We know how difficult it will be to get to this stage again.”

    Frankfurt will return to the highest flight of European competitors for the primary time since 1960, when it misplaced within the European Cup remaining to Real Madrid in Glasgow.

    The recreation had been largely even till a mistake by Frankfurt’s Brazilian defender Tuta, who tripped whereas attempting to chase down a routine again header. That allowed Aribo to hurry previous him to open the scoring at Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium by calmly sending a low shot previous Trapp.

    Tuta needed to be substituted after getting injured within the incident. It was Aribo’s first Europa League objective this season.

    Frankfurt equalized 12 minutes later with Borré sliding in between two defenders to transform a cross by Kostic from the left flank. He got here from behind central defender Calvin Bassey to ship the ball previous veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

    There was fan violence exterior the stadium earlier than the match, with supporters from each golf equipment throwing chairs and tables at one another. Five German followers have been detained the night time earlier than after a confrontation with police. More than 150,000 followers got here to the southern Spanish metropolis, most of them with out tickets for the ultimate on the 43,000-capacity stadium.

  • Europa League: Man United to face Villarreal in last, Arsenal eradicated

    Manchester United has lastly reached a significant last below Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
    Not that he was within the temper for celebrating on Thursday.
    An impressed goalkeeping efficiency by David de Gea ensured United was solely crushed 3-2 by Roma in a wild second leg of the Europa League semifinals, permitting the English group to finish an 8-5 victory on combination.
    It ended a run of 4 losses within the semifinals of main tournaments within the final 18 months for Solskjaer, who’s below stress to win United’s first trophy since 2017. That got here within the Europa League, when Jose Mourinho was supervisor.
    Yet Solskjaer was essential of his group for giving Roma so many probabilities on the Stadio Olimpico to show round a semifinal that appeared over after United scored 5 second-half objectives to win the primary leg 6-2 final week.
    “We played one very good half at Old Trafford that got us through,” he mentioned. “The second half today was disappointing. Very, very poor.”
    Villarreal can be United’s opponent within the May 26 last within the Polish metropolis of Gdansk after beating Arsenal 2-1 on combination within the different semifinal. The second leg completed 0-0 on Thursday.
    Highlights:

    Roma created sufficient clear-cut alternatives to tug off what would have been one other exceptional comeback, three years in the past after it recovered from 4-1 down in opposition to Barcelona within the Champions League quarterfinals, successful the second leg 3-0 on the Olimpico to advance.
    Goals by Edin Dzeko and Bryan Cristante, within the 57th and sixtieth minute, briefly put Roma 2-1 forward and that was the least the Italian group deserved after usually breaching United’s protection. The guests had been grateful for a slew of saves by De Gea in each halves, guaranteeing Nicola Zalewski’s deflected 83rd-minute winner on the 19-year-old’s debut proved solely a comfort for Roma.
    “It was always going to be one of those games that was going to be open,” Solskjaer mentioned. “It might simply have been 6-6. An odd recreation of soccer.
    “Luckily we have one of the best goalkeepers in the world in nets,” he added about De Gea, who has fallen behind Dean Henderson in United’s pecking order in latest weeks.
    Roma couldn’t maintain United at bay on the different finish as Edinson Cavani confirmed his prowess as a finisher, opening the scoring within the thirty ninth minute by taking a contact from Fred’s go and smashing in a shot from simply exterior the world.
    The 34-year-old Uruguayan’s second aim, a header from Bruno Fernandes’ cross within the 68th, made it 2-2 and got here as a aid for United as a result of Roma was threatening to attain at will.
    “We ended the match thinking we could have made it to the final,” Roma coach Paulo Fonseca mentioned.
    Winning the Europa League was Roma’s solely potential route again into the Champions League for subsequent season, when will probably be coached by Mourinho after the group selected this week to half methods with Fonseca.
    Villarreal attain Europa League last; Arsenal eradicated
    Villareal’s Juan Foyth, left, and Villareal’s Manu Trigueros, centre, rejoice on the finish of the Europa League semifinal second leg match between Arsenal and Villarreal on the Emirates stadium in London, England, Thursday, May 6, 2021. The recreation completed 0-0, Villarreal successful the tie 2-1 on combination. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
    Unai Emery is heading again to the Europa League last — on the expense of the membership that fired him final season.
    Emery’s Villarreal held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw within the second leg of their semifinal on Thursday, which was sufficient to safe a 2-1 combination win and arrange a last in opposition to Manchester United on May 26 in Poland.
    Emery can be searching for his fourth Europa League title after successful three straight with Sevilla after which taking Arsenal to the ultimate two years in the past.
    “Satisfaction, pride, happiness,” Emery mentioned when requested how he was feeling after the match. “We have to go to the final and beat Manchester United.”
    On his first return to the Emirates since being fired in November 2019, Emery calmly walked out of the tunnel so late that he practically missed the kickoff. He rapidly shook his alternative Mikel Arteta’s hand after which watched as his new group held a toothless Arsenal at bay with out ever wanting significantly threatened.
    For Arsenal, the failure to overturn the deficit means the group is going through the chance of being shut out of European competitors for the primary time in 25 years.
    Highlights: 
    Villarreal managed the primary half, practically scoring an early aim when Samu Chukwueze fired a curling shot within the fifth minute. But Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno was alert and palmed the ball out for a nook.
    The guests had been practically gifted a aim within the 14th, when Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey’s wild backpass from lengthy vary practically fooled Leno, who needed to backpedal rapidly to get the ball below management. A free kick from Daniel Parejo culred over Arsenal’s wall however didn’t dip, crusing simply over the crossbar within the twenty third.
    Arsenal lacked spark within the first half, however practically went forward within the twenty sixth when captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s shot hit the skin of the submit. The ahead practically scored once more within the thirty ninth by a goalkeeping error when his shot was spilled by Geronimo Rulli and the ball squeezed between his legs. But the keeper was in a position to declare it earlier than the ball might trickle over the road.
    Aubameyang hit the submit once more within the second half, this time on the within. And Arsenal defender Rob Holding had two headers that went shut, however Villarreal’s protection noticed the match out.
    Emery is already probably the most profitable coach within the historical past of the Europa League, successful it thrice in a row with Sevilla from 2014-2016. But he failed on his fourth try in 2019, when Arsenal misplaced 4-1 to Chelsea within the last.
    On Thursday, Emery pumped his fists and screamed in pleasure on the last whistle earlier than going to shake Arteta’s hand. Villarreal gamers had been ecstatic, celebrating on the sector by unfurling and holding a giant banner in Spanish that mentioned “Nos vemos en Polonia,” or “We’ll see you in Poland.”
    Two of Raúl Albiol’s teammates tackled him to the bottom whereas he was giving a post-match tv interview and sprayed him with water. In the dressing room, the celebrations continued with gamers dancing and singing alongside to reggaeton hit “Dale Don Dale.”
    Arsenal’s elimination will anger followers additional because the group sits mid-table within the Premier League and has little likelihood of qualifying for even the Europa League subsequent season.
    “We are devastated, really disappointed,” Arteta mentioned. “We tried everything up until the last minute.”
    It’s a state of affairs Arsenal hasn’t been in because the 1995-96 season — a 12 months that fell between the illustrious managerial eras of George Graham and Arsene Wenger.
    Just a few dozen Arsenal followers gathered exterior Emirates Stadium earlier than the match, a few of them protesting in opposition to Stan Kroenke’s possession and the membership’s doomed bid to hitch the Super League a couple of weeks in the past. It was a a lot smaller group in comparison with the a whole lot who held a loud demonstration earlier than the Premier League match in opposition to Everton on April 23.

    Arteta was pressured to make a change earlier than a ball was even kicked on Thursday when left again Granit Xhaka was pressured to be taken out of the beginning lineup after he pulled up with a decent muscle within the warmup.
    “It changed our game plan completely. We could see in the first half we were struggling with the ball,” Arteta mentioned.
    Kieran Tierney, who himself simply got here again from a knee harm and solely began coaching once more a couple of days in the past, was Xhaka’s alternative. Arteta lamented that he didn’t have a totally match squad, additionally mentioning Aubameyang’s latest bout of malaria.
    “The way we started the game wasn’t good enough,” Arteta mentioned. “We didn’t arrive here with everybody in top condition to be at our best.”

  • Europa League: Villarreal take 2-1 lead over Arsenal

    Unai Emery gained the primary battle towards his former membership on Thursday as Villarreal defeated Arsenal 2-1 within the first leg of the Europa League semifinals.
    Manu Trigueros and Raúl Albiol scored first-half targets to present the Spanish membership the sting forward of subsequent week’s second leg in London. The English aspect pulled one nearer with a penalty kick transformed by Nicolas Pepe within the 73rd.
    “We played a good match,” Emery mentioned. “It’s a bit unfair that we didn’t get a better result, but it’s still a victory and we will try to finish the job in the second match.”
    Arsenal obtained the necessary away objective whereas enjoying with 10 males as Dani Ceballos was despatched off with a second yellow card within the 57th. Villarreal then had midfielder Etienne Capoue despatched off with a second reserving within the eightieth.
    Villareal’s Manu Trigueros, left,celebrates after scoring his aspect’s opening objective through the Europa League semifinal first leg match between Villarreal and Arsenal on the Estadio de la Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Thursday, April 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
    “In the end we allowed them to stay alive,” Trigueros mentioned. “We won, but looking at the match we should have done better. They leave with a bigger prize than they deserved.”
    Villarreal is making its fifth try to achieve a European remaining, having failed on all earlier events, together with towards Arsenal within the 2006 Champions League and towards Liverpool within the 2016 Europa League.
    Arsenal is attempting to return to the Europa League remaining for the second time in three years after dropping the title to Chelsea in 2019 whereas below Emery’s command. That remaining was one of many highlights of the Spanish coach throughout his turbulent 18 months with Arsenal. He is in his first season with Villarreal after being fired by the English membership in November 2019.
    Emery has thrived within the Europa League, having led Sevilla to a few straight titles from 2014-16.
    There had been few important scoring probabilities for both workforce on the Cerâmica stadium, however the hosts capitalized on their alternatives within the first half.
    Villarreal opened the scoring 5 minutes into the match, with Trigueros discovering the online with a low shot from inside the world after the Arsenal protection didn’t clear the ball inside the world.
    Highlights:

    Villarreal added to the lead with Albiol scoring from shut vary off a nook kick within the twenty ninth. The defender discovered the online after striker Gerard Moreno deflected the nook kick cross towards the far submit.
    Pepe’s objective got here after a controversial penalty as Trigueros was adjudged to have tripped Bukayo Saka.
    “It’s clear that it wasn’t a penalty,” Emery mentioned. “Maybe they didn’t want to call back another penalty after what happened in the first half. The penalty really hurt us.”
    Arsenal, led by Spanish coach Mikel Arteta, thought it had a penalty kick towards the tip of the primary half however the name was reversed after a video assessment confirmed there was a handball by Pepe earlier than the foul occurred.
    Arsenal’s hopes of rallying appeared to take successful when Ceballos was despatched off for stepping on the leg of Villarreal playmaker Dani Parejo whereas attempting to win the ball. But then Capoue was despatched off for a foul on Saka. The Villarreal participant was injured throughout the identical incident and needed to go away the sector on a stretcher.
    “After the way the game developed, you have to take the result,” Arteta mentioned.
    Moreno practically added the third objective for the hosts lower than 10 minutes after Ceballos was despatched off, however his close-range shot was brilliantly saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
    Arsenal had one remaining clear likelihood however substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s try from inside the world was saved by Villarreal goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.
    “There’s a lot of positives that came in the second half,” Saka mentioned. “We’ve given ourselves a chance at home.”

  • Arsenal, Man Utd, Roma, Villarreal into Europa League semis

    With their season on the road, Arsenal’s gamers produced a devastating first-half efficiency Thursday to beat Slavia Prague and attain the Europa League semifinals.
    They’ll meet a well-known face there.
    Arsenal’s 4-0 win within the Czech capital — secured courtesy of a three-goal burst in six minutes from the 18th — clinched a 5-1 combination victory and arrange a last-four match towards Villarreal, which is managed by Unai Emery.
    The Spanish coach spent an underwhelming 18 months at Arsenal as Arsene Wenger’s substitute in 2018-19 and is rebuilding his managerial profession at Villarreal, which beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 and superior 3-1 on combination.
    Manchester United and Roma full the semifinal lineup.
    United is again within the final 4 for a second straight season after beating Spanish staff Granada 2-0 for a 4-0 combination win.
    Arsenal vs Slavia Prague Highlights:

    Roma drew 1-1 with Ajax to squeeze by means of 3-2 on combination.
    Arsenal and Roma had been below strain to advance as a result of the Europa League represents their solely probability of successful a trophy this season and their solely reasonable route into subsequent season’s Champions League, owing to their lowly present putting of their home leagues.
    Arsenal is ninth within the Premier League and Roma seventh in Serie A.
    The winner of the Europa League earns an computerized spot within the much more profitable Champions League.
    SENDING A MESSAGE
    Arsenal despatched a message earlier than and in the course of the win over Slavia.
    The hosts discovered the day earlier than the sport that their defender, Ondrej Kudela, had been banned for 10 video games for racially abusing Rangers’ Glen Kamara throughout a round-of-16 sport final month.
    Before kickoff, as Slavia’s gamers stood in a line on the heart circle, Arsenal’s gamers took a knee in a symbolic gesture in help of the Black Lives Matter motion, with Alexandre Lacazette doing so proper in entrance of the Slavia staff and staring on the gamers.
    Arsenal responded to having an early purpose by Emile Smith Rowe dominated out for offside by VAR by scoring 3 times in fast succession, first although Nicolas Pepe within the 18th after which Lacazette — from the penalty spot — and Bukayo Saka.

    That meant Slavia, the runaway chief of the Czech league which hadn’t misplaced at residence in practically 18 months, wanted to attain 4 targets to qualify. By halftime, the hosts had basically given up as they eliminated a few of their key gamers to protect their situation for the league.
    Lacazette, persevering with as striker with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sidelined after contracting malaria, added a fourth within the 77th minute.
    “The boys were really at it from the start,” Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta mentioned. “It is a really important win in a crucial moment. We won in a convincing way.”
    Arsenal misplaced to Chelsea within the Europa League remaining in 2019.
    Villarreal’s targets had been scored by Paco Alcacer and Gerard Moreno on the finish of the primary half, with Zagreb — the last-16 conqueror of Tottenham — grabbing a comfort by means of Mislav Orsic.
    Villarreal is within the semifinals of the Europa League for the primary time since 2016.
    CAVANI MILESTONE
    Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring his facet’s first purpose in the course of the Europa League, quarterfinal, leg soccer match between Manchester United and Granada on the Old Trafford stadium, in Manchester, Thursday, April 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
    Edinson Cavani scored his fiftieth purpose in European competitors to steer United to victory over Granada at Old Trafford.
    The 34-year-old Uruguay striker met a flicked header again into the center of the realm by Paul Pogba with a left-foot volley into the underside nook within the sixth minute.
    A Ninetieth-minute own-goal by Jesus Vallejo accomplished a second straight 2-0 win over Granada.
    United misplaced within the semifinals to Sevilla final season and has been defeated at that stage three different occasions — twice within the English League Cup and once more within the FA Cup — below Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
    Roma will look to inflict one other last-four loss on United after surviving a scare towards Ajax, which took the lead by means of Brian Brobbey’s lobbed end within the forty ninth to tie the rating on combination at 2-2.
    Edin Dzeko equalized within the 72nd and Ajax couldn’t discover the purpose that might have taken the match to further time.
    Solskjaer was a part of the United facet that beat Roma 7-1 at Old Trafford within the Champions League quarterfinals in 2007.

  • AC Milan draw 1-1 at Man United; Spurs, Arsenal win in Europa League

    AC Milan defender Simon Kjær scored in harm time Thursday to safe a 1-1 draw at Manchester United within the first leg of the Europa League’s spherical of 16.
    Kjær capitalized on poor defending to go in a nook within the 92nd minute to offer the Italian aspect a slight benefit forward of the second leg subsequent week.
    Roma, Tottenham, Arsenal and Ajax all put one foot into the quarterfinals with snug wins. But the assembly of two former European heavyweights stays evenly poised.
    United took the lead after 18-year-old substitute Amad Diallo scored his first European purpose simply 5 minutes after approaching. But the house workforce was disorganized for Rade Krunić’s late nook and goalkeeper Dean Henderson was unable to maintain out Kjær’s thumping header.
    AC Milan’s supervisor Stefano Pioli, left, and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in the course of the Europa League spherical of 16 first leg match between Manchester United and AC Milan at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Thursday, March 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
    “We should have attacked the ball with the men we had there,” United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær stated.
    Milan had two early targets dominated out at Old Trafford. Rafael Leão was offside within the fifth minute, whereas Franck Kessié displayed sensible approach to attain within the eleventh solely to see the purpose chalked off by way of VAR because the ball had struck his arm.
    The guests remained in management till United captain Harry Maguire someway struck the submit from point-blank vary with the purpose at his mercy after Bruno Fernandes headed on a nook within the thirty eighth.
    Fernandes was United’s key participant, offering a lofted ball excessive for Amad to go within the opener within the fiftieth minute.
    KANE DELIVERS
    Harry Kane scored twice to place Tottenham in a commanding place with a 2-0 dwelling win over Dinamo Zagreb.
    The England striker transformed a rebound after Erik Lamela’s effort hit the submit within the twenty fifth, and wrapped up the win within the seventieth. Kévin Théophile­-Catherine did not cope with Serge Aurier’s cross leaving Kane to attain with a low end.
    ARSENAL COMFORTABLE
    Mohamed Elneny put Arsenal in touching distance of the quarterfinals by sealing a 3-1 win over Olympiakos in Greece.
    Martin Ødegaard opened the scoring with a thunderous long-range strike within the thirty fourth however the guests missed additional probabilities within the first half.

    Youssef El-Arabi capitalized on poor move from Arsenal ’keeper Bernd Leno to equalize within the 58th.
    Gabriel restored the guests’ lead within the eightieth with a header, 5 minutes earlier than Elneny made certain of the win when the house aspect failed to shut him down and he let fly from exterior the penalty space.
    FANS IN THE STANDS
    Spanish workforce Villarreal beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 in Ukraine regardless of a number of thousand vocal followers being allowed into the sport.
    Gerard Moreno arrange defender Pau Torres to attain after the house workforce did not clear a nook within the thirtieth minute, and was concerned once more for the second. Villarreal captain Raúl Albiol scored on the rebound within the 52nd after Georgiy Bushchan saved Gerard’s header.
    OTHER GAMES
    Stephan El Shaarawy scored his first purpose for Roma since returning to the membership in January, serving to the Italian workforce to a 3-0 win over visiting Shakhtar Donetsk.
    Scottish champion Rangers drew 1-1 at Slavia Prague, and Ajax eased to a 3-0 win at dwelling over Swiss workforce Young Boys.
    Modest Spanish membership Granada earned a 2-0 win over Norwegian minnow Molde, which had Martin Ellingsen despatched off with two bookings halfway by way of the second half.

  • Arsenal, Milan by in Europa League; Napoli, Germans out

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored late to steer Arsenal into the final 16 of the Europa League with a 3-2 win over Benfica on Thursday, whereas Napoli and each German groups had been knocked out.
    Arsenal needed to come from behind to advance 4-3 on combination, whereas Napoli is out regardless of beating Granada 2-1 within the second leg. The modest Spanish membership surprisingly superior 3-2 on combination.
    “The dream continues!” Granada midfielder Luis Milla mentioned on Twitter.
    Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim went out with 2-0 losses at dwelling to Swiss facet Young Boys and Norwegian minnow Molde, respectively.
    “A huge disappointment,” Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz mentioned after dropping 6-3 on combination.
    Manchester United drew 0-0 with Real Sociedad for a 4-0 combination win, and Milan progressed on away targets, 3-3 on combination, after drawing 1-1 at dwelling with Red Star Belgrade.
    Goals from Lukas Provod and Abdallah Sima within the second half gave Slavia Prague a 2-0 win at Leicester to progress after their goalless first leg.
    Roma had little issue getting previous Sporting Braga with a 3-1 win at dwelling for 5-1 over two legs.
    AUBAMEYANG’S LATE DECIDER
    Aubameyang scored twice for Arsenal, together with the decisive 87th-minute winner simply because the Gunners had been poised to exit on the away targets rule regardless of enjoying each video games overseas resulting from coronavirus-related journey restrictions.
    The groups performed the second leg in Athens whereas the primary leg ended 1-1 in Rome after Benfica’s dwelling recreation was relocated from Portugal.
    Aubameyang opened the scoring within the twenty first, ending clinically after Bukayo Saka performed him by.
    Diogo Gonçalves equalized with a superbly positioned free kick inside the highest left nook within the forty third.
    A mistake from Dani Ceballos gifted Benfica its second purpose after an Arsenal nook within the 61st. Benfica goalkeeper Helton Leite produced a protracted kick out that Ceballos tried heading again to his personal goalkeeper, however solely inadvertently laid it off for Rafa Silva, who rounded Bernd Leno earlier than ending into the empty internet.
    Napoli’s Matteo Politano, proper, and Granada’s German vie for the ball throughout the Europa League, spherical of 32, return match between Napoli and Granada, on the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse through AP)
    It was simply the Portuguese group’s second effort heading in the right direction on the night time.
    But left again Kieran Tierney replied with a strike contained in the far put up within the 67th after displaying good composure to elude a Benfica defender, and Aubameyang accomplished the turnaround with a close-range header to the 19-year-old Saka’s cross.
    “We never seem to do it the easy way,” Tierney mentioned.
    UNITED YOUNGSTER MAKES BOW
    Shola Shoretire got here on as an alternative to develop into Manchester United’s youngest participant in European competitors. Aged 17 years, 23 days, Shoretire changed earlier file holder Norman Whiteside.
    Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal missed a very good probability to start out an unlikely comeback when he despatched a penalty excessive and large within the thirteenth minute, and United did sufficient thereafter to maintain the guests from stepping into the sport.
    United defender Axel Tuanzebe thought he scored his first senior purpose halfway by the second half, nevertheless it was disallowed as teammate Victor Lindelöf had crashed along with his knee into Jon Bautista’s head whereas leaping for the ball. The Swedish defender was booked after a VAR assessment.
    TRIBUTE FOR TA BI
    Milan ahead Franck Kessié paid tribute to Atalanta youth participant Willy Ta Bi after scoring his penalty early towards Red Star Belgrade. The 21-year-old Ta Bi died of most cancers on Tuesday. Kessié held up a shirt with the textual content “To God, champion.”
    Mirko Ivanic performed an excellent move for ahead Ben to equalize within the twenty fourth, two minutes after he hit the crossbar with a free kick.
    Belgrade defender Marko Gobeljic, who had conceded the penalty early on, was despatched off along with his second yellow card within the seventieth as his group was chasing the purpose it wanted to get by.
    EINDHOVEN OUT, AJAX THROUGH
    Egyptian ahead Kouka scored late for Olympiakos to knock PSV Eindhoven out regardless of a 2-1 defeat. The Greek group gained 5-4 on combination.
    Ajax progressed with a 2-1 win over Lille (4-2 on combination), Rangers cruised by with a 5-2 win over Belgian group Antwerp (9-5), Shakhtar Donetsk beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 (3-0), Villarreal defeated Salzburg 2-1 (4-1), Dinamo Zagreb beat Krasnodar 1-0 (4-2), and Dynamo Kyiv gained 1-0 at Club Brugge to progress 2-1 on combination.