Europa League, the results: Sevilla and Leipzig in the round of 16

Italy and Spain share the same fate, in the first round of the return of the play-offs. A qualification and an elimination: Atalanta also won in Athens, Lazio also lost at the Olimpico with Porto. Similarly, Sevilla won the round of 16 of the Europa League despite the defeat in Zagreb with Dinamo; Real Sociedad did not make it instead, beaten by Leipzig at the Anoeta.

Dinamo Zagreb-Sevilla 1-0

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Strengthened by 3-1 in the first leg, Lopetegui’s team opts for a rather cautious attitude: they manage possession and pace, but without sinking. In fact, the ideas of Mir and Gomez are not too convinced. The Croats on the other hand are unable to organize the maneuver dangerously, so Kopic changes a lot in the second half. Among the substitutes is Bulat, who in the 63rd minute wins the penalty kick of Hope. Acuña touches with his arm on his percussion in the area, Orsic shows up from the spot and baptizes the top right corner of the goalkeeper for the advantage of Dinamo. Menalo in the 76th minute nearly doubled, but on his turn Bounou opposed well at the near post. The Andalusians do not get upset, the only thrill comes on a conclusion from Orsic’s distance in the 89th minute, which however ends on the side. In recovery Delaney was sent off for a double yellow card, but without further consequences.

Real Sociedad 1-3 Leipzig

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In San Sebastian we start from an equal situation, for the 2-2 gained in Germany. The Leipzig, however, is much more convinced, while the Spaniards prefer to wait and then leave. At 18 ‘the first ring of the evening, with Orban concluding on Olmo’s free-kick, without finding the goal. The guests raise the pressure and eventually find the space to strike between the tight meshes of the opposing defense. Nkunku served perfectly in depth, Ryan overwhelms him on the way out. André Silva has the shot parried from eleven meters, but Orban is the quickest to pounce on the rebound and reiterate on the net (39 ‘). The Portuguese ex Milan redeems himself in the 59th minute when, at the suggestion of Simakan, he unloads an unstoppable right under the crossbar from the edge of the area to double. Real Sociedad’s response was not long in coming, with Zubimendi shortening the gap in the 66th minute: the midfielder was good at picking up Oyarzabal’s side and anticipating Gulacsi. A useless goal, however, because in the final the Leipzig scores again and again from the spot: hands of Elustondo on the touch of Nkunku, Forsberg is not wrong for the final 1-3 (89 ‘).