After last week’s goalless draw, Freiburg and Lens are tense again in the Europa League. In the former team – as in the first act of the duel – Roland Sallai entered the field as a starter, while Attila Szalai waited for deployment from the bench.
The first opportunity came immediately in front of Sallai, who in the third minute sent the ball badly over the goal. Not long after, the Hungarian midfielder was in danger again, this time with a flat attempt that went into the corner from one of the visiting defenders. Lens gradually took the initiative and established a minimal field advantage. And in the 28th minute, he turned this advantage into a goal after a free kick. Noah Atubolu moved horribly to the ball, just the one coming David Pereira patting it in front of him, and the Portuguese midfielder showed no mercy (0–1).
Freiburg tried, but just like in the Bundesliga recently – the team has been without a win in the league for a month -, Christian Streich’s team lacked the breakthrough power this time. And Lens was penalized again in the moments of added time, this time Manuel Gulde headed the ball towards the ball hanging on the right wing. Elye Wahinak, who poked Atubolu through the gate with an elegant gesture (0–2).
During the break, Streich reorganized his team, sending in two freshmen, switching from the previous four-back system to three central defenders. The change came, and Freiburg was able to put much more pressure on the visiting team, which was perhaps already behind, aware of its two-goal advantage. In the 62nd minute, it almost resulted in a penalty, but despite the obvious contact, neither the sportsmen nor those sitting in the video referee’s bus felt that the push against Nicolas Höfler was worth a penalty. But even this only managed to postpone the domestic beautification. In the 68th minute after a pass from the left Scarves bombed the rebound under the crossbar – Brice Samba had no chance against the shot coming from about six or seven meters, which bounced several times (1–2).
The goal was approaching, and Freiburg was taking more and more risks. In front of Lens, there were several counters, which could have closed the question of advancing, but it did not happen that way. Angelo Fulgini and Rúben Aguilar also missed their chance. In the 93rd minute, the French team was also guilty of this. Who else but Scarves another bouncing shot hit the right side of the goal (2–2). The Hungarian attacker thus became the clear hero of the match – recording his fourth goal in the Europa League. And the match was saved from a two-goal deficit to overtime.
Psychological superiority was now on the side of the Germans. And in the 99th minute Michael Gregoritsch the home team also took the lead with his goal (3–2). For the sake of variety, Sallai also earned immortal merits in this goal, who won the key duel at the height of the penalty area to allow his Austrian teammate to be eliminated.
In the lead, Streich had already taken Sallai off the field – if the tie remains, the Hungarian will probably stay on penalties – so in the final game he could support his team’s progress from the benches.
On the other tracks
Milan could travel to the home of Rennes with a three-goal lead. The French team, which visited Budapest a few months ago, had minimal hope of advancing. Benjamin Bourigeaud with an early goal, the red-shirted hosts tried to seize this small chance, but barely another ten minutes had passed, and Milan had already equalized, from Theo Hernández’s ball Luka Jovic took the wicket of veteran Steve Mandanda (1–1).
In the continuation, the two teams preferred open helmet play, thanks to which three more goals fell after the turn, Bourigeaud achieved a hat trick (scoring the latter two from the penalty spot). However, the Italian fans did not have to worry about Rafa Leao’s goal in the final game (3–2). Rennes won the match, but the duel still went to Milan.
Benfica achieved at home to Toulouse 0–0-val went on.
Roma bid farewell to Feyenoord with penalties.
Europa League, for reaching the round of 16, second leg:
- Rennes (France)–Milan (Italy) 3–2 (1–1)
Passed on: Milan, 5–3 on aggregate.
- Freiburg (Germany)–Lens (France) 3–2 (0–2, 2–2, 3–2)
Tj.: a Freiburg3–2 on aggregate.
- Qarabag (Azerbaijani)–Braga (Portugal) 2–3 (0–0, 0–2, 1–2)
Tj.: a Garabaghwith a 6–5 aggregate.
- Toulouse (France)-Benfica (Portugal) 0-0
Tj.: a Benfica2–1 on aggregate.
- Olympique Marseille (France) – Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) 3–1 (1–1)
Tj.: a Marseillewith a 5–3 aggregate.
- Sporting CP (Portugal)-Young Boys (Switzerland) 1-1 (1-0)
Tj.: a Sporting4–2 on aggregate.
- Sparta Praha (Czech Republic)–Galatasaray (Turkey) 4–1 (1–1)
Tj.: and Sparta Prague6–4 on aggregate.
- Roma (Italy) – Feyenoord (Dutch) 1–1 (1–1, 1–1, 1–1) – with penalties: 4–2
Tj.: a Romawith penalties after 2–2.
The teams in the round of 16 as group winners: West Ham United (England), Brighton (England), Rangers FC (Scotland), Atalanta (Italy), Liverpool FC (England), Villarreal (Spain), Slavia Praha (Czech Republic), Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
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