UEFA Champions League:
A.C. Milan 0-2 Inter Milan
It’s definitely advantage Inter heading into the second leg of this UEFA Champions League tie. Inter Milan took the lead after just 8 minutes through a brilliant finish by Edin Dzeko. The corner was whipped in by Hakan Calhanoglu and Dzeko volleyed home superbly to give Inter the lead. 3 minutes later and it was 2-0 to Inter as Henrikh Mkhitaryan got himself a goal. Even though the defending by A.C. Milan was questionable, the dummy by Lautaro Martinez was absolutely brilliant. Calhanoglu then smashed the post from miles out before Mkhitaryan missed an opportunity to make it 3-0 to the visitors. In the 31st minute, the referee awarded Inter Milan a penalty after Simon Kjaer brought down Martinez. However, the ref then went over to the monitor and changed his decision. Personally, I’m not sure if it was a penalty, but there wasn’t nearly enough evidence for the ref to change his mind. The first real chance for A.C. Milan fell to Junior Messias early in the second half, but his effort went well wide of the goal. A terrible effort at goal. Edin Dzeko then had another good opportunity for Inter, but his effort was saved well by Mike Maignan. In the 62nd minute, Sandro Tonali’s effort took a touch off Alessandro Bastoni and hit the post. In the end, it’s a disappointing result for A.C. Milan and they will need to play much better in the second leg next week. Milan play away to Spezia beforehand. As for Inter Milan, they are in Pole position to make it to this year’s UEFA Champions League Final after an excellent first-half display. Inter host Sassuolo on Saturday before they once again play against their rivals at the San Siro.
Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City
It’s all square going to the Etihad as Real Madrid and Manchester City finish all square at the Bernabeu. Thibaut Courtois made early saves to deny both Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri from putting Manchester City in front before Real Madrid looked certain to take the lead, but Ruben Dias pulled out a world-class block to stop the ball from going to Karim Benzema. In the 36th minute, Real Madrid took the lead after a thunderous effort by Vinicius Junior. In the second half, Kevin De Bruyne had a good chance for Man City, but his effort was denied well by Courtois (KDB was actually offside). In the 67th minute, Rodri won the ball back well and it resulted in Kevin De Bruyne blasting the ball in from long range to level the game up at 1-1. In the 78th minute, Karim Benzema had a really good chance, but Ederson pulled off a great stop to keep the game at 1-1. In the end, Real Madrid will be disappointed that they didn’t win this game. Madrid will most likely rest players against Getafe before the second leg in Manchester next Wednesday. As for Manchester City, they should be happy with a draw in Madrid. City play away to Everton before the massive Second Leg.
UEFA Europa League:
Juventus 1-1 Sevilla
Juventus left it super late to go to Sevilla on level terms. Dusan Vlahovic had a couple of good chances for Juventus in quick succession, but he wasn’t able to find the back of the net with either attempt. Lucas Ocampos then missed an absolute sitter for Sevilla, but just a minute later, the visitors were in front through Youssef En-Nesyri. And then, in the 97th minute, Federico Gatti headed home from just a couple of yards out to give Juventus a lifeline in this Semi-Final. In the end, that last-gasp goal for Juventus could be crucial for them. Juventus host Cremonese in Serie A before the second leg. As for Sevilla, it’s a good result for them, but they will be majorly disappointed that they didn’t see the game out. Sevilla play away to Real Valladolid before they welcome Juventus for a huge second leg.
Roma 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
A.S. Roma will go to Germany knowing a clean sheet will book their place in their second consecutive European Final. Robert Andrich had a great chance to put Bayer Leverkusen in front after inside 60 seconds, but his shot was easily saved by Rui Patricio. Florian Wirtz then came super close to putting Leverkusen in front before Roger Ibanez’s effort was brilliantly saved by Lukas Hradecky in the Leverkusen net. In the 63rd minute, Roma took the lead through Edoardo Bove. Tammy Abraham’s effort was pushed out by Hradecky straight into the path of Bove who finished well to give A.S. Roma the advantage. Overall, it’s a good win for A.S. Roma and they will look to finish the job in Leverkusen next week. Roma play away to Bologna beforehand. As for Bayer Leverkusen, they are definitely still in this tie. Leverkusen play away to VfB Stuttgart on Sunday before their biggest game of the season.
UEFA Europa Conference League:
West Ham 2-1 AZ Alkmaar
West Ham pulled out a great second-half performance to take a lead going into the second leg. Said Benrahma had a good effort at goal after 12 minutes, but his effort was superbly saved by former Brighton goalkeeper Matt Ryan. In the 41st minute, AZ took the lead through a long-distance strike by Tijani Reijnders. You have to question the goalkeeping by Alphonse Areola even if the ball did bounce up quite quickly. West Ham were also complaining that there was a foul in the build-up, but I don’t agree. Lucas Paqueta then had a really good chance to equalise almost immediately for West Ham, but his headed effort was really poor. Midway through the second half, West Ham were awarded a penalty after Matt Ryan caught Jarrod Bowen in the face. Said Benrahma stepped up and scored to level the game up at 1-1. In the 76th minute, West Ham United took the lead as Michail Antonio tapped home from close range. Overall, it’s a good result for West Ham United and they’ll look to keep their European dreams alive with a positive result in the second leg next week. The Hammers play away to Brentford beforehand. As for AZ Alkmaar, they’ll be disappointed with this result given they were winning at halftime. AZ host FC Emmen in the Eredivisie before they welcome West Ham for the biggest game of their season.
Fiorentina 1-2 Basel
FC Basel pulled out a brilliant European performance in Fiorentina to put them in Pole position for a spot in this year's UEFA Europa Conference League Final. Jean-Kevin Augustin put the ball into the back of the Fiorentina net after just 10 minutes, but his goal was ruled out for offside. Pietro Terracciano then pulled off a good stop to deny Andy Diouf before Arthur Cabral scored against his old club to give Fiorentina the lead after 25 minutes. In the 71st minute, Andy Diouf scored a brilliant solo goal to level the game up for Basel and in the 93rd minute, Zeki Amdouni scored to seal a brilliant European night for FC Basel. In the end, it’s a very disappointing day for Fiorentina and they will need to be much better next week. Fiorentina host Udinese beforehand. As for FC Basel, this was a brilliant win for them and they should now make it to the final. Basel play away to St. Gallen before they host Fiorentina.
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