UEFA Champions League:
Bayern Munich 2-2 Real Madrid
Nothing could quite separate Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in an exciting First Leg! Leroy Sane had a great chance almost straight away which was saved by Andriy Lunin before Real Madrid had the lead in the 24th minute through Vinicius Junior. In the Second Half, Manuel Neuer made a decent save to keep Toni Kroos’ effort out before Bayern Munich were level in the 53rd minute thanks to Leroy Sane. This was a great solo goal! Just a few minutes later and Bayern had a penalty as Harry Kane stepped up and scored to give the hosts the 2-1 advantage. Eric Dier then had a great chance to make it 3-1 which he headed straight at Lunin before Neuer made a good save of his own to keep out Vinicius JR. Madrid were then awarded a penalty after Min-Jae Kim brought down Rodrygo, and it was Vinicius who stepped up and scored to make it all square at 2-2! In the end, Bayern Munich will be disappointed with this result. Bayern go to Stuttgart tomorrow before the big Second Leg in Madrid. As for Real Madrid, this tie is very much in their own hands now! Madrid host Cadiz this weekend and they potentially have the chance to win the LaLiga Title before next week’s Semi.
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 PSG
Borussia Dortmund did what they needed to do to take a slim advantage into Paris. Gianluigi Donnarumma did well to keep Marcel Sabitzer’s effort out before Borussia Dortmund had the lead in the 36th minute thanks to Niclas Fullkrug. This was a really nicely taken goal by Fullkrug! Sabitzer then had another really good chance which was again saved by Donnarumma before both Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi hit the post for PSG in the space of about 10 seconds! Fabian Ruiz then had an unbelievable chance which he somehow put wide before Niclas Fullkrug somehow managed to blaze the ball over the bar from about 7 yards out! Dortmund then really should’ve had a penalty after Nuno Mendes pushed Fullkrug in the back, but unfortunately for the hosts, an English referee was in charge! Ousmane Dembele then had two great chances to score, but he couldn’t net with either! Overall, it’s a good win for Borussia Dortmund, but they could’ve won by more! Dortmund host Augsburg on Saturday before their biggest game of the season in Paris. As for PSG, it’s a loss, but they’re definitely in this tie still! PSG actually have a weekend off, so they should be fully prepared for Tuesday Night!
UEFA Europa League:
Roma 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen
It’s very much advantage Bayer Leverkusen heading into next week’s Second Leg! Romelu Lukaku managed to hit the crossbar with his headed effort before Jeremie Frimpong had a great chance which he poorly put wide. In the 28th minute, after a mistake from Rick Karsdorp, Bayer Leverkusen had the lead as Florian Wirtz finished coolly! Wirtz then had another decent chance which he struck straight at Mile Svilar before Frimpong came within a whisker of doubling Leverkusen’s lead! Frimpong then had another good chance which he failed to take (just before Halftime) before Leverkusen finally had their second in the 73rd minute courtesy of a great Robert Andrich strike! Sardar Azmoun then had a great chance for Roma which he failed to take before Tammy Abraham somehow missed from about 2 yards out! In the end, this was a terrible First Leg for AS Roma! Roma host Juventus on Sunday, and they’re going to need to pull out something special if they want any chance of making it to 3-straight European Finals. As for Bayer Leverkusen, it’s another win for them! Leverkusen go to Frankfurt this weekend as they look to keep their unbeaten season rolling!
Marseille 1-1 Atalanta
It’s all square heading into the Second Leg tie between Marseille and Atalanta. After just 11 minutes, Atalanta had the lead as Gianluca Scamacca scored with a really nice finish! Sead Kolasinac then pulled out some incredible defending to keep Atalanta in front, but Marseille were able to get back on level terms just a few minutes later through Chancel Mbemba. This was also a really nice goal! Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then had a great chance to give Marseille the lead which he dragged wide before Ismaila Sarr thought he’d put the hosts in front, but his goal was ruled out for offside! Azzedine Ounahi then came close as he smashed the woodwork as Marseille failed to make another chance count! In the end, Marseille will be kicking themselves that they didn’t take a lead into the Second Leg. Marseille have a week to prepare now for their next match against Atalanta. As for Atalanta, they’ll be pleased with this result. Atalanta have to play Salernitana on Monday Night before they host the Second Leg!
UEFA Europa Conference League:
Aston Villa 2-4 Olympiacos
It was a special First Leg for Olympiacos as they stunned competition favourites Aston Villa! Konstantinos Tzolakis made a really good save to push Morgan Rogers’ effort out before Leon Bailey’s opener was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. In the 16th minute, it was Olympiacos who took the lead as Ayoub El Kaabi finished well! 13 minutes later and Olympiacos’ lead doubled as El Kaabi scored again after a great pass from Daniel Podence. Aston Villa really should’ve then had a penalty after Leon Bailey was brought down, but it didn’t matter too much as Ollie Watkins scored to get one back for the hosts just before Halftime. 7 minutes into the Second Half and Villa were level as Moussa Diaby scored after some slightly questionable goalkeeping by Tzolakis. Olympiacos were then given a penalty after the ball struck the elbow of Douglas Luiz, and it was Ayoub El Kaabi who stepped up and scored to complete a rather memorable hat-trick! In the 67th minute, it was 4-2 to the visitors as Santiago Hezze’s effort took a massive deflection off Ezri Konsa before Villa were awarded a penalty after Diaby was brought down. However, Douglas Luiz then stepped up and saw his penalty hit the post and go wide in another disappointing moment for the hosts! In the end, it’s a very disappointing result for Aston Villa. Villa go to Brighton on Sunday, and they will need to be at their absolute best if they want any chance of turning the deficit around! As for Olympiacos, what a win for them! Olympiacos now have a week to prepare for the massive Second Leg tie!
Fiorentina 3-2 Club Brugge
A late goal was enough for Florentina to take a small advantage into Belgium next week! After just 5 minutes, Florentina had the lead as Riccardo Sottil scored with a fabulous strike! Nicolas Gonzalez then had a great chance which he poorly blasted high and wide before Club Brugge were awarded a penalty after a stupid handball! Guess what, the referee was English! Hans Vanaken then stepped up and coolly converted to make it all square after 17! After a bit of a scramble, Florentina were then back in front thanks to a nice finish from Andrea Belotti. Ferran Jutgla then had an amazing chance to make it 2-2 which he poorly made a mess of before Raphael Onyedika got sent off just moments later! And then just 2 minutes after all of this, Thiago Rodrigues finished well to make it 2-all from absolutely nothing! Belotti then had a really good chance which he headed wide before Florentina got their winner in the 91st minute through M’Bala Nzola. Overall, it’s a win and that’s all that matters for Florentina. Florentina take on Hellas Verona on Sunday before their important trip to Belgium! As for Club Brugge, they’ll be disappointed to concede late, but they are still very much in this tie! Brugge go to Royal Antwerp on Sunday before they play at home in the massive Second Leg.
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