Conference League Results: Leicester and Marseille win

The Conference League gets underway with the round of 16, but Slavia Prague and Feyenoord are already candidates for a place in the next round, after heavy victories over Lask and Partizan Belgrade respectively. Leicester also did very well, gaining a double advantage over Rennes, while Marseille, despite dominating, won by measure over Basel: in fact, Esposito, with his first goal in the competition, responded to Milik’s brace, who reached 18 goals this season. Pyrotechnic draw in Eindhoven between PSV and Copenhagen, ending 4-4. The Bodo / Glimt on Az Alkmaar passes in the final, while Kurtic decides the match between Paok and Gent in favor of the Greeks.

Paok-Gent 1-0

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Little happens in Thessaloniki, where Paok still manages to get the better of Gent. The only noteworthy shot of the first half was a central left foot from Akpom, who was saved without too much difficulty by Roef. The Belgian goalkeeper, however, has nothing to do with Kurtic’s free-kick in the 58th minute, which was decisively deflected by Castro-Montes who put him out of action. De Sart tries to lead the recovery immediately after with a sharp shot at the near post, but Paschalakis is attentive and is not surprised. The Greeks have no interest in picking up the pace and managing the lead turns out to be pretty easy until the final whistle.

Slavia Prague-Lask Linz 4-1

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A clear result in Prague, yet there is no shortage of regrets for Slavia who could have closed with an even higher score. The protagonist of the match is Yira Sor, who dominates in the first half: he is the one who unlocks it after only three minutes, unloading a powerful right on which Schlager opposes really badly. At 21 ‘the Nigerian touches the brace by svirgando the ball a few steps from the goal, but goes back to 29’: he snaps on the edge of the offside, jumps the goalkeeper and deposits the doubling with an empty net. The recovery does not seem different from the first half, Slavia Praga pushes and creates a lot, hits a post with Ba and a crossbar with Olayinka. As often happens, however, mistakes are paid and in the 67th minute Balic shortens the distance with a precise right-footed shot from outside the area. In the final, the Czechs build a more than deserved gap, scoring first with Olayinka (83 ‘), precise to find the crack in front of the goal, and then with Traoré (85’) who beats Schlager with his head.

Partizan Belgrade-Feyenoord 2-5

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Entertainment and emotions in Belgrade, in the match between Partizan and Feyenoord. At 13 ‘the Serbs took the lead, with Natcho’s placing from the edge who, however, was injured at the time of the conclusion. Seven minutes and the guests equalized: splendid action from before, Toornstra concludes with a precise shot that touches the post and ends up in the net. Vujacic has the chance to bring Partizan back but deflects high on the developments of a corner kick in front of goal. In the final of the first half a goal to Aursnes was canceled, which however seemed to be regular: in the Conference League there is no Var and Mariani trusts the offside called by Bindoni. A few seconds into the second half and Partizan finds the goal: Jovic, who had replaced Natcho, pounces on a loose ball in the area and his razor leaves no chance for Bijlow. The new advantage did not last long, at 51 ‘in fact Dessers took advantage of Sinisterra’s nice touch and kicks on the fly: Popovic touches, but it is not enough. After the 2-2, Feyenoord increases the rounds. At 64 ‘the comeback is complete, with the beautiful conclusion at the intersection of Geertruida, good at being ready in the area. Then comes Sinisterra’s turn to register for the party and he does it in style: the Colombian tows his chest and shoots from outside the box, putting the ball where Popovic can’t reach (70 ‘). There is also time for the goal that mortgages the qualification: Dessers in front of the goalkeeper serves Toornstra as a heel, good at following the action and supporting without opposition in the 77th minute. For the Dutch captain these are the first goals of the season in Europe.

Leicester-Rennes 2-0

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Wins without producing the maximum effort, Leicester, winning at the King Power Stadium against Rennes. Genesio’s team got off to a better start, creating dangers with Laborde and Bourigeaud. The British grow with the passing of the minutes and in the half hour they unlock the game: Barnes runs well to the left, gains the bottom and on his back touch comes Albrighton who kicks hard under the crossbar. The Foxes gain ground, manage possession and risk very little. Even without putting too much intensity into it, in the 90th minute Leicester scored a very heavy goal from the point of view of the double confrontation. Albrighton this time serves an assist to substitute Iheanacho, who is precise to place her at the far post.

Marseille 2-1 Basel

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Huge regrets for Marseille, who dominate far and wide but will face the second leg with only one goal advantage. The French pushed from the very first minutes. Under at 8 ‘he touches the goal with a left-footed shot that is printed on the post. Shortly after it is Payet who has a great opportunity from a few meters, but he only finds the outside of the net. At fifteen minutes, Pelmard tries to anticipate a high ball with his foot, hitting Guendouzi: it’s a penalty kick. Milik takes charge of the joke, opting for the spoon and making no mistake. The Pole also signs the doubling in the 68th minute: Rongier leads the transition and goes to the shot, Lindner’s rebound is short and the former Napoli takes advantage of it by reiterating on the net (68 ‘). Marseille seem to be in control, but Basel have the spin on the axis of the Inter Primavera made up of Males and Esposito: the first launches, the second controls and puts Mandanda on with a precise diagonal in the 79th minute. Sampaoli’s team also risks a sensational own goal, with Rongier surprising his goalkeeper with a back pass, very good at smanacciato the ball destined for the goal.

Psv Eindhoven-Copenhagen 4-4

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Race not for the faint of heart in Eindhoven, where PSV and Copenhagen put on a great show. The Danes take the lead after six minutes: Boving hits the post, regains possession of the ball and serves Johannesson, cold to jump Drommel and score. At 21 ‘the equal of the home team, with the header of Gakpo unstoppable for Grabara. The balance lasts only one turn of the hands: Falk takes advantage of an error in the setting phase and serves Biel, who enters the area and signs the double. Madueke has the equalizer, but from a few steps he does not punish Copenhagen (32 ‘), who then stretches: the former Genoa Lerager uses an approximate marking on a corner kick to beat the PSV goalkeeper again in the 43rd minute. The Dutch do not give up and return to the game at the beginning of the second half with Doan, who always hits the developments of an inactive ball (50 ‘). Two minutes later, the guests still close to scoring, with Vavro’s header ending just wide. Schmidt’s team devours the equalizer in the 62nd minute, directly from a penalty kick caused by Ankersen’s hand foul: Gakpo from the spot chooses the corner to Grabara’s right, the goalkeeper senses and saves. The attacker is forgiven in the 70th minute, when he replies on the net yet another miracle of the goalkeeper, this time on Gotze. The last word, however, has Copenhagen: another error coming out of the PSV, Biel takes advantage of it who recovers the ball, jumps an opponent and kicks at the far post where Drommel cannot oppose (78 ‘). But that’s not all. At 85 ‘Gakpo this time inspires and serves to perfection the cut of Zahavi who hits head in the race and fixes the score at 4-4.

Bodo / Glimt-Az Alkmaar 2-1

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Bodo / Glimt is confirmed as one of the teams to beat in this Conference League, even beating Az Alkmaar. The initial stages are of study, with the Dutch who hold the field better and not by chance create the first opportunity. At half an hour Pavlidis is found perfectly between the defense shirts, but the Greek’s right-footed player stops at the post. At 39 ‘, however, Bodo / Glimt passes: Sampsted flies to the right, his cross is made especially for Pellegrino’s head who only has to push the advantage into the net. At 59 ‘the Norwegians are still very dangerous: Espejord looks for the corner to the left of Vindhal who, however, is good at getting longer; on the rejected there is Pellegrino who, however, shoots high over the crossbar. Az did not let themselves be discouraged and found the equalizer in the 73rd minute with Aboukhlal, who opened the pot perfectly in the center of the area on the excellent suggestion of Sugawara. When the time is up, Bodo places the overtaking on a dubious penalty kick. Solbakken does not tremble from eleven meters, the goalkeeper also touches the ball but the shot is too powerful.