AC Milan, Sporting CP & Qarabag impress in first legs

AC Milan have been the large winners as the primary Europa League knockout spherical received underway on Thursday evening, opening up a 3-0 combination lead over in-form French aspect Rennes at San Siro.

Rennes got here into the primary leg tie off the again of 5 successive wins in Ligue 1, but they proved no match for Milan and English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The previous Chelsea star opened the scoring after 32 minutes and doubled each his private tally and his workforce’s benefit virtually instantly after half-time. Rafael Leao then put the consequence on the evening – and presumably the tie as an entire – past doubt with Milan’s third purpose just a few minutes later.

The seven-time European champions have one foot firmly within the final 16 and Rennes have a mountain to climb within the return leg subsequent week if they’re to alter that.

Roma did not have the identical luck, held by Feyenoord in Rotterdam. Igor Paixao gave the Dutch aspect the lead at De Kuip in first half stoppage time, with Romelu Lukaku’s newest Europa League purpose making certain the sport completed degree. Roma not less than arguably have the sting heading to Italy for the second leg.

Shakhtar Donetsk twice hit again of their ‘residence’ leg in opposition to Marseille on impartial soil in northern Germany. The sport completed 2-2 however the Ukrainians confirmed mettle to cancel out each Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s sixty fourth minute opener after which Iliman Ndiaye’s would-be ninetieth minute winner.

Galatasaray had a participant despatched off of their 3-2 residence victory over Sparta Prague. Dries Mertens put the Turkish aspect 2-1 forward simply moments earlier than Victor Nelsson was dismissed, instantly adopted by Jan Kuchta’s Sparta equaliser. The groups have been evened again up when Matej Rynes noticed crimson for the Czechs with ten minutes to go, leaving Mauro Icardi to win it for Gala in stoppage time.

Ruben Amorim’s Sporting CP will fancy their possibilities of preserving a 3-1 combination lead at residence, having crushed Younger Boys away in Switzerland in leg one in every of their tie. Ex-Coventry Metropolis striker Viktor Gyokeres was on the score-sheet for the Portuguese, as was Goncalo Inacio, linked with various prime golf equipment, together with Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Benfica have been Lisbon’s different membership in victorious Europa League motion, taking a 2-1 win from their conflict with Toulouse on the Estadio da Luz. The day after celebrating his thirty sixth birthday, two Angel Di Maria penalties – the second within the 98th minute of the match, secured the combination benefit.

Azerbaijan’s Qarabag have by no means been so far as the final 16 in any European competitors, however stand an unbelievable likelihood of adjusting that this season due to a 4-2 first leg win away from residence over Braga. After the Portuguese aspect had purchased it again to 1-1 by half-time, Qarabag scored three unanswered targets within the first 24 minutes of the second half to make the distinction. Joao Moutinho’s stoppage time penalty not less than offers Braga a glimmer of hope to show it spherical.

The one stalemate of the evening was the goal-less draw between Lens and Freiburg in north east France. Lens dominated possession however did not put a single one in every of their 12 makes an attempt on track. Freiburg examined Brice Samba within the residence purpose 4 occasions with out discovering a well past.

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