Conference League, results: Marseille and Leicester in the round of 16

Slavia Praga, who eliminated Fenerbahce by winning 3-2 with a brace from the young Yira Sor, Paok (on penalties against Midtjylland) and Vitesse are added to Leicester, Marseille, Psv and Partizan Belgrade and complete the picture of the round of 16 of the Conference League, a milestone in its own historical way given that the new European cup is in its first edition. Together with them is Bodo Glimt, the true fairy tale of the season, capable of beating both the first leg and the return leg (2-0) against Celtic, much more experienced on the international scene. During the celebrations, Norwegian fans wave Ukrainian flags as a sign of closeness to the people invaded by Russia. Solidarity also shown by Slavia Prague, who arrived on the grass wearing T-shirts with the words “We are with Ukraine” and after having chosen the Ukrainian defender Taras Kacharaba as the captain of the evening. Tomorrow, Friday 25 February, at 1 pm the draw for the next round is scheduled, in which Roma and the other group stage winners will meet again, ready to be drawn as seeded.

Randers-Leicester 1-3

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Not that there were many doubts after the 4-1 first leg, but Leicester takes one hundred seconds to go ahead at Danish Randers and secure the passage to the second round of the Conference League. Barnes begins, left free to advance and kick in the left lane of the penalty area. A 3-0 that confirms the ambitions of the English in the tournament, considering that in the Premier League the Foxes are not doing well and in the Fa Cup they have been eliminated by Nottingham Forest, a championship club. “We have the opportunity to go far, we want to be the first to raise this trophy” confirmed goalkeeper Schmeichel, who made an error six minutes from time that gave the Danes the joy of scoring (Odey). At the end of the first, however, he could have done little on the two occasions of Kehinde (offside) and Vito, but both kick to the side from a few meters. And then Maddison closes the accounts with a screaming brace: perfect punishment from the left in the 70th minute; another right to turn from the outside, but on the other post, immediately after.

Qarabag 0-3 Marseille

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Marseille also advanced, making life easier with a goal from Gueye, served by Payet, after less than a quarter of an hour. Rounding off the win (3-0) against the Azerbaijani Qarabag are Guendouzi and the twenty-year-old La Fuente, with an assist from Under, in the final. A satisfactory booty, if we also consider the 3-1 home match of the first leg, for the team of Sampaoli, another for which the Conference becomes a real goal. In the first half the locals would also have managed to find an equalizer with Ibrahima Wadji, but after a few minutes, between protests and yellow cards, the goal was canceled. On the bench the former Napoli Milik, today to the French and decisive in the first leg with a brace.

Bodo Glimt-Celtic 2-0

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In the cold of Norway, another feat of little Bodo Glimt, who after the 6-1 trimmed against Roma in the groups continues to amaze in the Conference. This time Celtic did not score a single goal and made a tremendous effort to establish themselves, falling behind after nine minutes with Solbakken’s goal. Vetlesen in the 69th minute sends the ball of tranquility into the goal.

Partizan-Sparta Prague 2-1

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In the first leg the match had been in the balance until about ten minutes from the end, at home, however, Partizan is completely different and in twenty-five minutes closes the accounts with a brace from Ricardo Gomes, scoring in the 7th minute and then even a little later, left alone on a corner kick. While in the second half he is expelled. Sparta Prague shortens in the 85th minute with Hlozek and tries to finish with a flourish.

Maccabi Tel Aviv-Psv 1-1

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Thanks to the one to zero of a week ago, the PSV avoids extra time and celebrates access to the second round in a complex race, which both of them unlocked only in the final and suspended for a few minutes after the launch of an object on the pitch, fortunately. without consequences. Not Zahavi, PSV striker and historic Maccabi scorer, but the young Vertessen (84 ‘) ten minutes after his entry. Saborit equalized in the 91st minute when the time for a possible comeback was now gone.

Slavia Prague-Fenerbahce 3-2

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The stadium changes, the Turks’ defensive problems remain, down by two goals and one step away from elimination already in the 27th minute, even counting the defeat at home last week. Slavia Prague scores eight minutes later with Schranz and on the counterattack with 21-year-old Nigerian Yira Sor. As soon as he was bought, he had never scored in Europe and was in his second presence as a starter: he will have a magical night and will return home with a brace. His knockout blow, a blow from the penalty spot that ends up under the crossbar in the 63rd minute. In the middle, Fenerbahce must give up Ferdi (Sangare in his place) even if they find hope in Yandas ‘goal, on 39’, a splendid left foot from outside. He approaches again with Berisha, who has entered for nine minutes, but even on the return the comeback is not completed.

Vitesse-Rapid Vienna 2-0

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The Dutch put an end to their six-game winless streak (including five defeats) on the night it counts most, quickly overturning the first leg verdict. Curious how to break the deadlock is an Austrian, the 25-year-old Adrian Grbic with a past in the Rapid academy, after only two and a half minutes. Followed by Bero (at 19 ‘), good at playing on the offside line. Rapid Vienna, who struggled in the first months of the year, wasted the success of the first leg and exited the cup even risking to suffer the trio, canceled for offside.

Paok-Midtjylland 7-4 ad

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Here is a first consequence of the new European rules, for which the away goal in the cups is no longer worth double. Otherwise, with Hoegh’s shot in the 80th minute, which had halved Midtjylland’s disadvantage from 2-0 to 2-1, the Danes would have gone to the second round. And instead, given that they had won 1-0 in the first leg, a match always led by Paok ends up on penalties. The Greeks, in six minutes from 20 ‘, had struck with Zivkovic and then with the Portuguese defender Vieirinha’s masterpiece on the run, but stumbled on the most beautiful. To decide it, you need kicks from the spot, where Paok is perfect (5/5) with former Serie A Jasmin Kurtic closing the series, while Max Meyer’s initial mistake costs Midtjylland dearly.