The Europa league returned this week with the last-16 fixtures taking place. With some interesting ties on offer here are TIBS NEWS’ winners and losers from the first leg ties.
THE WINNERS
5. Rangers
Rangers’ impressive season continued in Europe with a 1-1 draw away from home to Slavia Prague. Filip Helander’s goal has given Steven Gerrard’s men a slight advantage going into next week’s return leg at Ibrox. The Scottish side will look to make this season an even better one by continuing their European adventure.
4. AC Milan
The Italian side scored a last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United from defender Simon Kjaer to give them a slender advantage going into their return leg at the San Siro next week. Milan dominated the game against United and had the ball in the net twice, one ruled out for offside and another by VAR for handball. Milan looked very strong despite missing several first-team players, including former United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
3. Villarreal
The Spanish side have one foot into the quarter-finals after an impressive 2-0 away win in Ukraine. Goals from Pau Torres and Raul Albiol was enough to give Villarreal breathing space against Dynamo Kiev. Having a European cup run could be the route for Villarreal to play in Europe next season as they have fallen off the pace in Spain after a bright spell earlier in the season.
2. Tottenham
Tottenham have taken a step towards the quarter-finals after Harry Kane scored a brace against Dinamo Zagreb. Kane put Spurs ahead in the 25th minute before adding his second on the 70th minute. Kane now has 25 goals for the season. It was a comfortable win for Spurs, who will now turn their focus to the north London derby on Sunday.
1. Arsenal
Arsenal are in a commanding position going into their second leg against Olympiacos. Goals from Martin Odegaard, Gabriel and Mohamed Elneny have given the Gunners three crucial away goals. Arsenal dominated the first half and went in at the break 1-0 up when it could’ve been even more. Arsenal will hope to finish the job next week and get revenge after last season’s exit to the Greek side.
THE LOSERS
5. Dani Ceballos/Bernd Leno
Despite the win for Arsenal, there was yet another mistake from one of their players in a game. A defensive mix-up gifted the Greek side an equaliser on the 58th minute. Dani Ceballos failed to control a ball out from Bernd Leno. Youssef El-Arabi pinched the ball and scored. It’s deja-vu for Leno as that is two mistakes in as many games where the goalkeeper has been involved.
4. Dean Henderson
Despite keeping clean sheets in his last two matches, Henderson could not add another to his tally. Simon Kjaer’s 92nd-minute header was enough to beat him for the first time in six appearances. It was a goal the England international should’ve dealt with better despite getting a hand on it. How crucial could that goal be in the tie?
3. Martin Ellingsen
Two yellow cards in the space of three minutes did not help Molde stay in the game against Spanish side Granada. Martin Ellingsen picked up his first yellow on the 68th minute after a bad foul before committing another three minutes later when the score was 1-0 to Granada. The red card rules him out of the second leg and Molde have mountain to climb to try and reach the quarter-finals.
2. Manchester United
Thursday night was a night where Manchester United looked off the pace and toothless. Despite their derby day win on Sunday, the Red Devils failed to back that up with another victory. They didn’t create a lot and their best chance fell to captain Harry Maguire who somehow missed the target from a yard out. Half-time substitute Amad Diallo scored in the 50th minute from United’s first shot on target to sum up their tepid display. However, they are still in the tie and could’ve been in a better position if they had defended better from Milan’s injury-time corner.
1. Olympiacos
The Greek side were looking to make it two seasons in a row where they have knocked out Arsenal in the Europa League. Olympiacos had their fair share of chances in the game to make the contest closer but failed to take them. At 1-1 the Greek side looked in control until a spark from Arsenal produced two more away goals making the task harder next week. Can Olympiacos overturn a first-leg deficit for the second time in 13 months?
