The Europa league last-16 second legs came to a conclusion on Thursday night. With the line-up for the quarter-finals confirmed, TIBS NEWS has provided our winners and losers from those ties.
WINNERS
5. Roma
Another solid performance from the Italian side as they won 2-1 away to Shakhtar Donetsk. Both goals were scored by Borja Mayoral which were his sixth and seven Europa League this season. The Europa League could be the passage for the club to reach the Champions League with positions via the Serie A route being congested. Roma have made it to their first-ever Europa League quarter-final with victory.
4. Manchester United
Manchester United continued their unbeaten run in all competitions to squeeze past AC Milan. Paul Pogba made an instant impact off the bench to help steer United into the quarter-finals. United were a little lacklustre in the first half but improved after the interval, defended well and kept another clean sheet. The 2017 Europa League was the last piece of silverware United won, could they add another title to their trophy cabinet?
3. Granada
The Spanish side made history on Thursday night by reaching the Europa League quarter-finals for the first time in their history. Former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado scored a vital away goal to ensure his side reached the last eight with an 3-2 aggregate victory over Molde.
2. Slavia Prague
First Leicester and now Rangers, Slavia produced another impressive away performance in Europe to ease through to the quarter-finals. Going into the game level on aggregate, Slavia started the game well and were rewarded with an away goal in the 14th minute as Peter Oladeji scored a header. Slavia added a second away goal in the 74th minute when Nicolae Claudiu Stanciu converted a free-kick to put the game behind Rangers. The win was Slavia’s first away win against a Scottish side in three attempts and have reached the quarter-finals for a fourth time in their history.
1. Dinamo Zagreb/Mislav Orsic
A Mislav Orsic hat-trick produced a shock as Zagreb overturned a 2-0 aggregate deficit to dump Tottenham out of Europe. On a night where Zagreb were in control and created a bundle of chances, they were rewarded on the 62nd minute when Orsic curled a shot into the top corner before slotting home a second in the 82nd minute. His third goal came in extra-time with a great run and finish to put the hosts in control. The result ensured that Zagreb have reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League for the first time in their history.
LOSERS
5. Arsenal
Despite going through on aggregate, it was a bad night for the Gunners as they lost 1-0 at home to Olympiacos. Luckily for Arsenal the tie was over from the first leg where they won 3-1 in Greece. The display at the Emirates was a poor one overall from Arsenal where they had chances to make the tie more comfortable than it was. Arsenal will be hoping to go all the way in Europe this season as a European place in the Premier League looks a little too far for them.
4. Ousseynou Ba (Olympiacos)
On a night where the Greek side were always chasing goals, getting sent off didn’t help their chances. At the time Olympiacos were 1-0 up before the Ba got send off. The defender was booked for a foul on Gabriel Martinelli before sent off for a show of dissent for the foul. He smashed the ball in anger with his hand and immediately received a second yellow turning it into a red. It was a moment of madness, which all but ended the Greek side’s chances of progressing.
3. AC Milan
It was a disappointing night for AC Milan who bowed out of the European football with a 1-0 second leg home defeat by Manchester United. It was the first time they were in Europe for two seasons – which was also in the Europa League. Going into the second leg with a slender away-goal advantage, Milan didn’t create a lot and were reduced to half-chances before falling behind to Pogba’s 48th-minute goal. Milan failed to create too many clear-cut chances before full-time after conceding too. Their focus will be trying to catch neighbours Inter Milan in the hunt for the Scudetto.
2. Rangers
A sour end to a very good season for Rangers saw them lose to Slavia Prague. Rangers’ task took a dent when the visitors took the lead in the 14th minute. It was made worse when second-half substitute Kemar Roofe saw red for a high boot on keeper Ondrej Kolar. Twelve minutes after Roofe’s red card, Leon Balogun received a second yellow and that all but ended Rangers’ chances of progressing.
1. Tottenham
Tottenham’s chances of qualifying for Europe next season came crashing down as they were dumped out of the Europa League at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb. Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Spurs’ task was simple but instead it turned into a nightmare as they lost 3-0 in Croatia. What is next for Spurs? They still have a League Cup final on the horizon and are six points off the top four, with a game in hand.
