The Europa League is heating up as the last-16 ties begin to take shape. On Thursday, eight matches were played across Europe with some exciting results. In this article, we will take a look at each match and see how the teams fared. We’ll also discuss how these results might affect the second legs, which are to be played next week.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Ferencváros
Bayer Leverkusen dominated their match against Ferencváros, winning 2-0 at home. The first goal came in the 22nd minute when Patrik Schick found the back of the net with a powerful header. The second goal came in the 67th minute when Moussa Diaby scored from close range. Ferencváros didn’t pose much of a threat throughout the match, and Leverkusen will be confident of progressing to the quarter-finals.
Juventus 1-0 Freiburg
Juventus secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Freiburg in a tightly contested match. The only goal of the game came in the 39th minute when Alvaro Morata finished from close range. Freiburg had several chances to equalize, but they were unable to find the back of the net. Juventus will be happy with the win, but they know that the second leg will be a tough challenge.
Manchester United 4-1 Real Betis
Manchester United produced a dominant performance to beat Real Betis 4-1 at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a well-placed penalty. Marcus Rashford doubled United’s lead in the 48th minute before Fernandes added a third in the 62nd minute. Real Betis pulled one back through Loren Moron in the 73rd minute, but Daniel James restored United’s three-goal lead with a superb solo effort in the 90th minute.
Roma 2-0 Real Sociedad
Roma secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in a match that they dominated. The first goal came in the 22nd minute when Borja Mayoral finished off a well-worked team move. The second goal came in the 45th minute when Lorenzo Pellegrini scored from the penalty spot. Real Sociedad had several chances to get back into the game, but they were unable to find a way past Roma’s defense.
Sevilla 2-0 Fenerbahce
Sevilla put in a solid performance to beat Fenerbahce 2-0 at home. The first goal came in the 35th minute when Youssef En-Nesyri headed home from a corner. The second goal came in the 68th minute when Franco Vazquez scored with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Fenerbahce had a few chances to get back into the game, but they were unable to take them.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Feyenoord
Shakhtar Donetsk was held to a 1-1 draw by Feyenoord in a closely contested match. Feyenoord took the lead in the 21st minute when Bryan Linssen finished from close range. Shakhtar Donetsk equalized in the 64th minute when Manor Solomon scored with a superb solo effort. Both teams had chances to win the game, but they had to settle for a draw.
Sporting CP 2-2 Arsenal
Sporting CP and Arsenal played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in Lisbon. The first goal came in the 18th minute when Tiago Tomas finished off a well-worked move to give Sporting the lead.
Arsenal equalized in the 33rd minute when Emile Smith Rowe scored with a well-placed finish. Sporting regained the lead in the 56th minute when Pedro Porro scored with a stunning long-range strike. However, Arsenal fought back once again and equalized in the 70th minute through Nicolas Pepe’s penalty. Both teams had chances to win the game, but they ultimately had to settle for a draw.
Union Berlin 3-3 Union SG
In one of the most entertaining matches of the night, Union Berlin and Union SG played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. Union SG took the lead in the 23rd minute when Christopher Trimmel scored their own goal. Union Berlin equalized in the 30th minute when Max Kruse scored with a well-placed finish. Union SG regained the lead in the 57th minute when Christopher Trimmel scored at the right end this time. Union Berlin equalized once again in the 71st minute when Marcus Ingvartsen scored from the penalty spot. Union SG looked to have won the game when Timo Baumgartl scored in the 88th minute, but Union Berlin had other ideas. In the dying moments of the game, Petar Musa scored a dramatic equalizer to salvage a point for Union Berlin.
Conclusion
Overall, it was an exciting night of football in the Europa League. Some teams produced dominant performances, while others had to fight hard for their results. The second legs are sure to be even more intense, as the teams battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals. The Europa League never fails to disappoint, and we can’t wait to see what happens next week.
FAQs
- When will the second legs of the last-16 ties be played?
- The second legs of the last-16 ties will be played on Thursday 16 March.
- Which teams produced dominant performances in the first leg?
- Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester United, Roma, and Sevilla all produced dominant performances in the first leg.
- Which match was the most entertaining of the night?
- The match between Union Berlin and Union SG was the most entertaining of the night, with six goals scored in total.
- Who are the favorites to progress to the quarter-finals?
- Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester United, Roma, and Sevilla are all favorites to progress to the quarter-finals.
- Which team will cause an upset in the second leg?
- It’s difficult to predict, but Feyenoord could cause an upset against Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg.
The Europa League last-16 ties did not disappoint with some teams producing dominant performances in the first leg, while others had to work hard for their results. Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester United, Roma, and Sevilla all secured comfortable victories in their respective matches. However, Feyenoord managed to hold Shakhtar Donetsk to a 1-1 draw, and Sporting CP and Arsenal played out a thrilling 2-2 draw.
The second legs are set to be even more intense, as the teams battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals. With only a few days to prepare, each team will be looking to make the most of their strengths and exploit their opponent’s weaknesses. Some teams will be looking to overturn a deficit, while others will be looking to protect their lead.
