Updated
Winners of Galatasaray in Istanbul (2-1), the Blaugrana qualified for the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Like Remo Freuler’s Atalanta Bergamo.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Pedri shone on the lawn of Galatasaray.
AFP
The European adventure continues for FC Barcelona: the Catalans, hanging 0-0 in the first leg at Camp Nou, tamed Galatasaray 2-1 Thursday in Istanbul and are qualified for the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
The Blaugrana shuddered when the Turks opened the scoring in the 28th minute, on a diving header from captain Marcao from a corner. They managed to turn the tide thanks to a goal from the prodigy Pedri (37th), who again offered a sublime performance in Turkey, and another from rookie Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the second period (50th).
It’s a huge sigh of relief for Xavi and the Catalan club, three days before the clasico return to La Liga at Real Madrid on Sunday (9 p.m.). Barça’s priority objective is to return to the Champions League next season and the Blaugrana, third in the league, intend to go to the end of the Europa League, a competition that the club has never won, to seal their return to C1.
Pedri treats again
In the boiling Nef Stadium, which booed the Catalans all game, Xavi started by grimacing: shortly before the half-hour mark, Marcao’s powerful header gave hope to all Turkish fans. But the Catalans, surprisingly muzzled in the first leg at Camp Nou, quickly regained their standards (three goals scored per game in the last six matches). And with the entry into play of Ousmane Dembélé, who replaced the holder Adama Traoré just after the break, the Blaugranas accelerated and largely dominated in the second period.
Pedri once again delighted the public with high-class gestures, and by eliminating two defenders in the area to conclude full of composure and put his people back in the match (1-1, 37th). Returning from the locker room, it was Aubameyang, described as a “gift from heaven” by Xavi this week, who inherited a perfect ball after a three-cushion billiard shot that saw Iñaki Peña, on loan from Barça, sign two beautiful saves, then Frenkie de Jong offers him a judicious ball of the head. In the 90th + 2, in stoppage time, Ferran Torres almost drove the point home, but his stung ball hit the crossbar.
Only downside of the evening for the Catalans: the injury of Sergino Dest, hit in the back of the left thigh and replaced in the 56th by the Uruguayan Ronald Araujo. Dest could miss the clasico against Real, although veteran Dani Alvés, not registered for the Europa League, seemed in a strong position to fill the position on Sunday anyway.
Unworthy Monaco, Atalanta assures
In other matches, Monaco, unworthy of their rank, were unable to beat Braga (1-1) and were eliminated without contest (3-1 on aggregate). The Portuguese, who nevertheless remain on two draws and a defeat at home in the league, have quietly played with often mediocre Monegasques, whom the Stade Louis-II has also shouted down and whom Philippe Clement does not manage to grow. The Principality’s team, eliminated in the European Cup, the Coupe de France and nine points from the podium in Ligue 1, has been in full decline for a little over a month. And on Sunday, PSG arrives at Louis-II…
On the other hand, Atalanta Bergamo of Remo Freuler provided the essential against Bayer Leverkusen trained by Gerardo Seoane (1-0). Winners in Italy in the first leg (3-2), the Bergamasques waited for additional time to score the one and only goal of the match, signed Jérémie Boga (90th + 1).
In the evening, Lyon qualified without really shaking after their home draw against FC Porto (1-1), after winning in the first leg (1-0). OL did not have to deliver a great match against a rather disappointing Lusitanian formation that lacked weight in attack. But he still knew how to display the rigor and the seriousness necessary not to be surprised and to remain undefeated in the Europa League this season. This qualification thus allows the club of Jean-Michel Aulas to keep the hope of winning the event to join the Champions League next season. Which seems, at the moment, very unlikely via the championship for the Rhodanians, only 10th at 9 points from the podium.
In the Europa League Conference, Rennes won against Leicester (2-1), but this victory did not allow them to catch up on the first leg (0-2). Benjamin Bourigeaud set the stadium on fire by quickly opening the scoring (8th). The stadium was so exulted that a barrier broke when the RCK Ultras rushed down their turn, like every goal scored at Roazhon Park. According to the prefecture, 12 people were slightly injured, including two taken to hospital for suspected wrist or ankle fractures.
The Rennais were surprised by Wesley Fofana, who returned to competition seven months after his tibia fracture (51st). If Flavien Tait gave hope to his people (76th), the siege in order of the goal of Leicester, in a tense climate, did nothing in the last quarter of an hour.
A week after their spectacular draw in Copenhagen (4-4), PSV inflicted a correction on the Danes at home (4-0). As usual this season, Friborg goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo watched the match from the bench.
Finally, AS Roma got scared but Tammy Abraham narrowly avoided (90th + 1) extra time (1-1) against Vitesse Arnhem, beaten 1-0 in the first leg.
(AFP)