Read up on all of the games that happened last night in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg
Sparta Praha 1 – 5 Liverpool
After just six minutes, Alexis Mac Allister took advantage of some careless Sparta defending to win and score a penalty. However, Liverpool needed some sloppy finishing from their Czech hosts in addition to some valiant defending from Caoimhin Kelleher and company to keep themselves in the game.
On Darwin Nunez’s first start back after a muscular injury, the striker blasted from the edge of the box and then volleyed into the far corner as Liverpool scored two more goals before the half ended.
However, the second half began disastrously for Liverpool as defender Ibrahima Konate hobbled off with a potentially dangerous injury, although manager Jurgen Klopp later stated that Bradley’s substitution was precautionary. Conor Bradley also gave up an own goal with his first touch of the game.
Eight minutes after the interval, Liverpool’s three-goal lead was restored by Luis Diaz’s finish from within the box. Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah were then brought off the bench due to their individual injuries.
Szoboszlai made a triumphant comeback, contributing a fifth goal with the final kick of the match.
AS Roma 4 – 0 Brighton
Brighton’s night took a particularly unpleasant turn when they revealed on X that they had denounced the incident to UEFA and the Italian police, and that they had been the target of coins, bottles, and lighters from the home stands.
After a brief break within 12 minutes, Paulo Dybala opened the scoring early on the pitch. The assistant referee first called it offside, but VAR changed its mind and determined that the Argentine was well behind the final man.
Romelu Lukaku was released free by a strong Lewis Dunk touch in the closing minutes of the first half, and after giving Jason Steele the eye, he tucked in a second at the near post. Despite Brighton’s strong competition before the interval, this blunder gave Roma a cushion.
Just two minutes later, Bryan Cristante nodded in after more appalling defence, putting an end to the game and maybe the tie. The third was hardly better protected as a half-cleared corner was returned to the box and slid home by Gianluca Mancini.
SC Freiburg 1 – 0 West Ham
The Hammers had been in control of the match for the most part, but in the 81st minute, Michael Gregoritsch put the home team ahead due to a lack of focus.
Late in additional time, West Ham had a sight of a lifeline. When Tomas Soucek tried to hook the ball above Noah Weisshaupt’s head, it struck the young midfield player’s raised arm.
However, the referee, who had been sent to the monitor, remained with his first decision not to give the spot kick after four minutes of VAR review. Kurt Zouma, the West Ham captain, and David Moyes, the manager, were both seen talking to the referee about the incident at full time.
Qarabag 2 – 2 Leverkusen
Leverkusen came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Qarabag in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 35 matches.
Alonso made eight changes and was punished, with his side creating an xG of just 0.19 before the break. Qarabag made the most of their lacklustre performance and stormed into a two-goal lead.
Benzia crashed Juninho’s cutback into the top-left corner before the Brazilian added a goal to his assist. He rushed away from Tah, lofting the ball over Kovar before tapping his shot into an empty net. However, Leverkusen made changes and levelled the score.
Wirtz capitalised on a poor backpass, chipping his effort over Lunev to halve the deficit before the visitors levelled in the 92nd minute. Schick was free in the middle and he powered his header past the goalkeeper.
The result means everything is to play for in the second leg next week! Qarabag host Zira in the Azerbaijan Premier League and need 11 points from 11 games to lift the title. As for Leverkusen, they welcome Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
AC Milan 4 – 2 Slavia Praha
It was a brave display from Slavia, who went down to 10 men when Diouf saw red before Giroud nodded the hosts ahead. The visitors responded, though, with Doudera thundering home a superb volley to level.
Milan took control before the break, however, with Reijnders rifling home from range before Loftus-Cheek crashed a header into the back of the net. Slavia came back again through the substitute’s Schranz’s powerful drive, but dazzling work from Leao restored the hosts’ two-goal cushion with five minutes left, flying past his defender before teeing up Pulisic to finish.
The first-leg result leaves Slavia with it all to do in next week’s second leg back in the Czech Republic, though they have league duties to attend to first, hosting Teplice on Sunday. Milan are in Serie A action themselves before then, welcoming Empoli to San Siro on Sunday before the teams meet again next week.
Benfica 2 – 2 Rangers
Despite dominating both the ball and the shot count, Benfica must settle for a first-leg draw at Estadio da Luz, where it finishes 2-2 with clinical Rangers.
The Glasgow club carved out relatively few chances, but Lawrence headed them in front early on, before Sterling’s strike just before half-time restored their advantage once Di Maria had levelled matters from the penalty spot.
Only Goldson’s own goal denied the Gers a lead to take back to Scotland’s second city, where next week’s return leg will decide who progresses to the Europa League quarter-finals.
It’s perfectly poised ahead of that contest at Ibrox, but before the teams reconvene seven days from now, Benfica will aim to end their three-game winless streak at home to Primeira Liga strugglers Estoril on Sunday, while Rangers meet Hibernian in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.
Marseille 4 – 0 Villarreal
Where Villarreal actually failed to attempt a shot on target.
Marseille knew exactly where the goal was as they took a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. Jordan Veretout converted a smart header on 23 minutes.
Five minutes later, Yerson Mosquera suffered an unfortunate ricocheted own goal. To make matters worse, he then gave away a poor penalty – of which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted on 42′. In the second half, things didn’t get any better for the visitors as top-scoring Aubameyang put in a superb chip.
Newly introduced Alberto Moreno then saw red before this defeat signified a truly uphill battle in the second leg at La Ceramica.
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