Europa League, quarter-finals: United 2-2 Sevilla, Bayer 1-1 Saint Gilloise

Create a lot, collect a little. It is the fate that unites Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Europa League. The Red Devils have to deal against Sevilla and bad luck (a hit post and two own goals against in the final) in a much tighter 2-2 than a practically dominated game said. The Germans, on the other hand, didn’t go beyond a 1-1 draw against Union Saint-Gilloise, who knew how to take advantage of the few opportunities to hit Xabi Alonso’s team so as to play for qualification at home.

Manchester Utd-Seville 2-2

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Ten Hag had to do without the injured Rashford and launched Martial from the first minute, while Mendilibar opted for Lamela as a centre-forward with a decidedly prudent setup. Manchester United’s monologue begins after a few seconds, when Antony puts Sancho in front of the goalkeeper but the goal is disallowed due to the Englishman being offside. The former Ajax player is one of the most active and engages Bono with a shot at the near post (13′). A minute later the Andalusian wall collapses: Bruno Fernandes finds Sabitzer perfectly on the offside edge, the midfielder turns and kicks, also favored by a slight deflection, for the advantage of the Red Devils. The Austrian scored twice in the 21st minute with a conceptually similar action, this time it was Martial who served him and the shot crossed. Sevilla’s only flash ended in Rakitic’s free-kick from an excellent position, which finished high. Antony touches personal joy in the 61st minute, but his left-footed shot is rejected by the post. The British create many interesting situations, without realizing any of them. Thus, at the first defensive inattention, Sevilla reopen the match in a daring way: Navas crosses from the right, Malacia intercepts but the deflection ends behind an innocent De Gea (84′). United finished in ten men due to Martinez’s foot injury after the changes were over, a beautiful scene of fair play with fellow compatriots Montiel and Acuña who carried him off the pitch. The mockery comes in recovery: En-Nesyri’s header slams into Maguire and still displaces the Spanish goalkeeper, driven in by friendly fire.

Bayer 1-1 Saint Gilloise

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For Bayer Leverkusen the weight of the advanced department is distributed on the shoulders of the young talent Wirtz, supported by Diaby (ex Crotone) and Adli. The Belgians respond with the usual trident made up of Teuma, Vertessen and Boniface. The inertia of the game hangs entirely for Xabi Alonso’s team, in the 7th minute Wirtz just misses the goal with a shot from the edge. While giving up possession, Union Saint-Gilloise came very close to scoring with Kandouss who deflected a corner from the right, however, hitting the crossbar (28′). Two excellent chances for the Germans at the end of the first half: Hincapié only found the outside of the net with his header from a few steps away, while Diaby’s shot went wide not by much. Upon returning from the changing rooms, the guests unlock the match: Teuma serves Boniface on the left, the marking is very soft and the Nigerian takes advantage of it to aim for the far post where Hradecky cannot reach (51′). Bayer Leverkusen’s pressure increases as the minutes go by, Frimpong devours the equalizer by angling his header too much in the 78th minute. Wirtz, however, is more precise than his partner and in the 82nd minute fixes the score at 1-1: Azmoun picks up a tip from the left, puts it back and the playmaker’s right foot from the edge is surgical. The Iranian would also have the ball to comeback in full stoppage time, but gets blocked at the time of the attempt.