Europa League
Roma 4-0 Brighton
BRIGHTON’S EUROPEAN ADVENTURE turned into a nightmare after they were blown away by Roma to suffer a 4-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roberto De Zerbi had guided the Seagulls through to the Europa League last-16 with a four-match winning run in the competition, but first-half goals by Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku put the visitors on the ropes in Rome.
Worse was to follow after the break with Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante able to score in quick succession to essentially kill the tie.
Evan Ferguson was introduced from the bench for Danny Welbeck on 82 minutes, with Brighton already 4-0 down.
The Premier League outfit did have their chances with Welbeck in particular denied on several occasions, but injury-hit Brighton need a miracle to overturn a four-goal deficit in next week’s second leg.
De Zerbi and opposite number Daniele De Rossi exchanged a number of pleasantries on Wednesday with the Seagulls boss labelled a “genius”, but it was a different story out in the streets of the Italian capital with two Brighton fans stabbed the day before the match.
Both fortunately only suffered minor wounds ahead of the club’s first ever European knockout tie and a hostile atmosphere greeted the away players onto the pitch.
It was almost 1-0 inside three minutes when Leonardo Spinazzola was given too much time on the left and picked out Chelsea loanee Lukaku, whose header was brilliantly tipped over by Jason Steele.
Steele was at fault for Roma’s next opportunity after a wayward pass gifted possession to the hosts, although Lukaku could only drag his effort wide.
It had largely been one-way traffic but Brighton provided a reminder of their threat when Simon Adingra – one of six changes from Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Fulham – saw his cross deflected onto the post by Roma’s Evan Ndicka.
That chanced settled Brighton, who had just started to dictate possession when they were cut open for the opener after 12 minutes.
Leandro Paredes threaded a superb through ball from inside his own half, which Lewis Dunk was unable to intercept and Dybala rounded Steele before he fired into the empty net.
Dybala’s joy was initially cut short when the offside flag was raised but a VAR check deemed the Argentina attacker had been onside and the goal stood.
Brighton did respond well to going behind and more joy for Adingra down the left created a chance for Welbeck after 26 minutes, but Mile Svilar brilliantly saved with his feet.
Lukaku headed another opportunity off target soon after before Paul van Hecke deflected a Lorenzo Pellegrini shot wide as Roma retained their dominance and that turned into a second goal with 43 minutes on the clock.
Another Paredes ball forward caused Brighton problems and captain Dunk’s poor touch allowed Lukaku to race through and slot beyond Steele for his 18th goal of the season.
The visitors almost responded instantly after Adingra crossed in for Welbeck, but Svilar produced a flying save to thwart the header.
De Zerbi introduced Ansu Fati at half-time, but Roma should have made it 3-0 early into the second period only for Steele to deny Lukaku’s latest header.
The next goal felt crucial and more Adingra magic created another opening for Welbeck, who could only scoop over from inside the area.
It was a pivotal miss with Roma able to grab their third and fourth goals in quick succession to all but kill the tie.
Mancini poked home from Stephan El Shaarawy’s cross after 64 minutes and although the defender appeared marginally offside, a VAR check awarded the goal.
Four minutes later it was 4-0 as El Shaarawy again burst down the left and found Cristante, who headed home to ensure De Zerbi endured a night to forget on his return to Italy.
Qarabag 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧!
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 7, 2024
A 92nd minute equaliser in Baku!#UEL pic.twitter.com/P8MDBVi0za
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are well on course to win their first-ever Bundesliga title but have work to do to reach the Europa League quarter-finals after leaving it extremely late to rescue a draw away to Qarabag.
Yassine Benzia blasted into the roof of the net to give Qarabag the lead in their last-16 first leg at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku.
A brilliant piece of skill from Juninho to round goalkeeper Matej Kovar and slot home then had the Azeri fans in dreamland just before the break.
Alonso had rested a number of his key players and the Germans improved with a series of changes after the break.
Florian Wirtz was one of those introduced from the bench and his cool chipped finish 20 minutes from time gave the Bundesliga leaders a foothold in the tie.
Patrik Schick then headed home in stoppage time to preserve Leverkusen’s unbeaten record in 35 games in all competitions this season.
Conference League
Ajax 0-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa survived a testing assignment at Ajax as they drew 0-0 in the first leg of the Europa Conference League last-16 in Amsterdam.
Villa were second best throughout the night at the Johan Cruijff ArenA but the Dutch giants, led by England international Jordan Henderson, could not make their advantage count as it ended goalless.
They were reliant on goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to produce an important save and were unable to produce their dynamic attacking football at the other end.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the final 10 minutes as Ezri Konsa was harshly sent off for two yellow cards, with Tristan Gooijer following for the hosts moments later.
But Unai Emery’s men will now be confident of winning in next week’s second leg at Villa Park, where they are so strong, and booking their spot in the quarter-finals.
With a crunch game in the race for the Premier League top four against Tottenham to come on Sunday, Emery made several changes to his side, with John McGinn and Leon Bailey among those dropping out.
One of the replacements, Moussa Diaby, almost made an early impact when he created space for himself only to shoot straight at Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj.
Ajax are nothing like the side that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League five years ago and are labouring in fifth in the Dutch Eredivisie.
But they gave the Villa the run around in a first half where Emery’s men were pegged back and lucky to survive.
Henderson gave them a scare on the half-hour when he whipped a 25-yard free-kick over Martinez’s crossbar before the home side’s big chance six minutes later.
Jorrel Hato brought the ball out of defence and played in Brian Brobbey with a defence-splitting pass, but the Netherlands international shot into the side-netting as he closed in on goal.
Villa did not improve much after the break and brought on McGinn and Bailey to try and get control of the game.
But they were reliant on Martinez to keep them level in the 68th minute as the World Cup winner produced a smart stop to keep out Kenneth Taylor’s effort from Borna Sosa’s cut back.
Villa’s task looked like getting harder after Konsa had to walk for a second yellow card when it looked like he was being fouled.
But Gooijer picked up his second booking moments later and Villa were able to see the game out unscathed.
- With reporting by AFP
