The return play-offs of the UEFA Europa League will take place on February 22. UEFA.com talks regarding the decisive matches for places in the 1/8 finals.
The main thing regarding the play-offs
There are 16 teams playing at this stage: the eight clubs that finished second in the Europa League group stage versus the eight clubs that finished third in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
The return matches will take place on February 22; the so-called away goal rule was abolished. The winners of the play-offs will join the Europa League group winners in the round of 16. The draw for this stage will take place on February 23. The losers are eliminated from European competition.
February 22
18:45 (CET): Rennes – Milan (The first match: 0:3)
Two fine headers from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and a superb scoring combination from Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao earned Milan a comfortable home win. The Italian club dominated throughout the match, although Rennes struggled from time to time. Ultimately, Milan’s quality of players played a key role, but the visitors should be commended for their attacking efforts towards the end of the match.
Rennes defender Arthur Theate remarked following the match: “Milan was not in complete control of the situation, but in key episodes the Italians played better. However, nothing is finished yet. Anything is possible in a home match.”
Rennes have failed to score in just two of their last 17 Europa League matches, but as the San Siro game showed, Milan can be very dangerous on the counter-attack. At home, the French need to show balanced football and not immediately rush forward.
Did you know?
Eight players from the current Milan squad have played in France: Leau, Olivier Giroud, Mike Maignan, Simon Kjaer, Yacine Adly, Alessandro Florenzi, Ismael Bennase and Pierre Calulu.
Milan – Rennes 3:0. Best momentsPlay Predictor!
18:45 (CET): Freiburg – Lens (first leg: 0:0)
Lens coach Frank Eze noted following the first match that “a number of players did not play at the proper level,” but this did not prevent the French from defending a draw. “We still believe that there are ways to go further,” said Lens defender Kevin Danso, who blocked Maximilian Eggestein’s dangerous shot.
Freiburg went to France following three defeats in a row, and German coach Christian Streich spoke of the need to make sure they win. True, the club’s top scorer Vincenzo Grifo (nine goals, including four in the Europa League) and Michael Gregoric started the match on the bench.
Freiburg might reach the round of 16 for the second time in a row, with Eze hoping to “go as far as possible” in the French club’s first European Cup campaign since the 2007/08 season.
Did you know?
Freiburg played only three European Cup matches once morest French clubs (W2 D1). The first two were once morest Nantes in the last Europa League.
Lens – Freiburg 0:0. Best moments
18:45 (CET): Toulouse – Benfica (first leg: 1:2)
The outcome of the first match was decided by Angel Di Maria’s precise kick from the penalty spot in the eighth minute of stoppage time. In France, Benfica will be helped not only by a one-goal handicap, but also, as ex-Eagles winger Simão noted, by the support of the large Portuguese diaspora.
And yet, it will definitely not be easy for the two-time European champions. The debutant of the European Cup playoffs, Toulouse, looked decent in the first meeting, played their football and scored thanks to Mikkel Desler’s volley.
“Benfica is a big club,” noted Toulouse coach Carles Martinez. – I think that the return match will be similar to the first, but I hope we will have more scoring chances. We will do everything to change the situation in our favor. We’re still halfway there.”
Did you know?
Toulouse qualified for the Europa League following winning their first ever trophy, the French Cup, last season. During the tournament, Toulouse scored 25 goals in seven matches, and in the final at the Stade de France they defeated Nantes 5:1.
Benfica – Toulouse 2:1. Best moments
18:45 CET: Qarabag – Braga (first match: 4:2)
Qarabag is only 90 minutes away from reaching the 1/8 finals of a European Cup tournament for the first time in history. Abdellah Zubir’s double helped Gurban Gurbanov’s team achieve a brilliant victory in Portugal. Marko Jankovic gave the visitors the lead from the penalty spot, but Simon Banza equalized just before the break from a corner. In the second half, Qarabag tore apart the opponents’ defense: Zubir scored twice, Juninho scored another goal. João Moutinho’s precise strike from the 11-meter mark gave Braga hope once more. However, before visiting Baku, the Portuguese must remember that Qarabag have lost only two of their last 26 home matches in the European arena.
Did you know?
Qarabag failed to score in only one of its 15 European matches this season.
Braga – Karabakh 2:4. Best moments
Who is already in the 1/8 finals?
“Atalanta” (ITA)
“Bayer” (GER)
“Brighton” (ENG)
West Ham (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP)
Liverpool (ENG)
Rangers (SCO)
Slavia (CZE)
21:00 CET: Roma – Feyenoord (first leg: 1:1)
In the Netherlands, Igor Paixao gave Feyenoord a first-half lead but Roma fought back following the break thanks to Romelu Lukaku’s 67th-minute cross from Leonardo Spinazzola. The visitors might have scored earlier, but Leandro Paredes hit the crossbar. In the end, Feyenoord were closer to scoring. The Dutch might have snatched victory in stoppage time, but following Luka Ivanušec’s shot the visitors were saved by the post.
“It’s easier for the opponent now, because our style hasn’t changed much in the last two years,” noted Feyenoord defender Quilindsey Hartman, talking regarding the next meeting of these teams – the sixth in the last nine years. So, last season Roma defeated the Dutch in extra time and reached the semi-finals.
“Any player can cause trouble. We have to learn from the first match and move on,” Hartman added.
Did you know?
New Roma coach Daniele De Rossi, who played for the capital club for 18 years, first took to the field with the captain’s armband in the 1/8 finals of the UEFA Cup – in 2006 once morest Middlesbrough.
Feyenoord – Roma 1:1. Best moments
21:00 CET: Sporting v Young Boys (first leg: 3:1)
With Victor Diekeres and Marcus Edwards in the lineup, Sporting looked like favorites in the first meeting. It was following Edwards’ cross that Orel Amenda scored into his own goal, and then the Englishman earned a penalty for Győkeres.
Young Boys pulled one goal back thanks to Filip Ugrinich’s precise strike, but Sporting restored their two-goal advantage through the efforts of Gonçalo Inácio, who headed home Pedro Gonçalves’ free-kick. The position of the Swiss club was aggravated by the removal of Mohamed Ali Kamara at the end of the match.
Thus, in the home match, the leader of the Portuguese championship will play with a two-goal advantage, which clearly gives him confidence. Young Boys will try to win their first ever victory over their Portuguese opponents. But to have a chance for a radical turnaround, the Swiss will have to play in a more attacking manner.
Did you know?
Last season, Sporting reached the quarter finals of the Europa League.
Young Boys – Sporting 1:3. Best moments
21:00 CET: Sparta v Galatasaray (first leg: 2:3)
After a thriller with five goals scored, it was not even the scorer of the winning goal, Mauro Icardi, who deserved special praise from Galatasaray winger Dries Mertens and coach Okan Buruc, but Istanbul goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Sparta’s tireless attempts to break into the hosts’ defense and rapid counterattacks became a real headache for the Turkish team, and it was Muslera’s heroism that several times prevented the Prague team from changing the course of the match.
Buruk praised his team’s reaction to Jan Kuchta’s conceded goal shortly following Viktor Nelsson was sent off. Sparta head coach Brian Priske noted that his team showed its “best side” despite the defeat. It looks like fans in Prague will be in for an equally exciting match.
Did you know?
Sparta won their two previous home meetings with Galatasaray, scoring three goals in each.
Galatasaray – Sparta 3:2. Best moments
21:00 (CET): Olimpik – Shakhtar (first match: 2:2)
On Tuesday, the Marseille club announced the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso as head coach. He was replaced by former coach of the Ivory Coast national team Jean-Louis Gasse, for whom the return match with Shakhtar will be his debut at the head of Olympic.
Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will become the sole top scorer in Europa League history if he scores in the return leg. The Olympique striker matched Radamel Falcao’s achievement when he opened the scoring in the first leg, scoring his 30th goal of the tournament. Shakhtar had to fight back twice, and even their opponents noted the miners’ character following the match. “We are disappointed because we led twice but let the victory slip away,” said Olympique defender Samuel Gigot. “Now we need to gain confidence to win the return leg.”
Shakhtar head coach Marino Pusic was pleased with the spirit his team showed in the first official match following being eliminated from the Champions League more than two months ago. “We showed character, we came back twice, we attacked bravely,” he said. “I think we deserved a little more, but sometimes football can be like that.”
Did you know?
For the first time in its history, Shakhtar conceded in seven consecutive Europa League matches.
Shakhtar – Olympic 2:2. Best moments
Where will the final be held?
©Getty Images
The 2023/24 Europa League final will take place at the Dublin Arena in Ireland on May 22, 2024.
Dublin Arena seats 50,000 spectators and hosts home matches of the Irish national football and rugby teams. The stadium was opened in 2010, and in 2011 the Europa League final took place here between the Portuguese clubs Porto and Braga, in which the only goal was scored by Dragons striker Falcao.
