The European Cup matches this week and the next will be an opportunity for them to continue to send messages of peace, as they have been doing since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Zinchenko is "so badly"

Manchester City defender Oleksander Zinchenko and West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko are two of three Ukrainians playing in the Premier League (no Russians).

"I'll be honest, if it hadn't been for my daughter, my family, I would be there," Zinchenko said in a poignant BBC interview on Saturday.

"Maybe the closest thing to the feeling I've had is when someone close to you dies. You know, that feeling of feeling so bad inside. I was just crying" , added Zinchenko, 25.

Manchester City's Ukrainian midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko warming up before the Premier League Round 27 match against Everton on February 26, 2022 at Goodison Park in Liverpool Oli SCARFF AFP/Archives

He did not come into play this weekend and is not sure if he will be lined up against Sporting Portugal in the Champions League on Wednesday.

No more than his compatriot Yarmolenko, 32, absent this weekend.

"We are not going to rush him (to come back)", assured David Moyes, the coach of the Hammers, expected in Seville Thursday in the Europa League.

Bezus "grateful"

Roman Bezus was honored on Sunday in Belgium by the supporters of his club, La Gantoise, who applauded him at the start of the match, before the Buffalos player scored the winning goal in the last seconds in front of Zulte-Waregem (2-1).

"I had planned a t-shirt, celebrations, but in the emotion, I forgot everything," explained Roman Bezus, after leaving the field in tears.

"I couldn't think of anything, it was very emotional. All I can do is pray for Ukraine and for peace."

Ukrainian midfielder Roman Bezus, during a press conference, June 11, 2021 in Bucharest, two days before the Euro 2020 match against the Netherlands in Amsterdam Daniel MIHAILESCU AFP / Archives

"I have received a lot of support for a week, a lot of people have helped me and are helping my compatriots. I am grateful to them," said the 31-year-old midfielder whose team travels to PAOK on Thursday. Thessaloniki in the Europa League Conference.

Yaremchuk applauded

On February 23, on the eve of the start of the invasion of his country, Benfica Lisbon striker Roman Yaremchuk showed off a t-shirt emblazoned with the Ukraine crest to celebrate a goal against Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League. champions.

"Being thousands of kilometers from my homeland, I want to support all those who are currently in distress in our native land," the 26-year-old striker explained on Instagram.

A few days later, when he entered the game against Vitoria Guimaraes in the league, the player from Lviv received a standing ovation.

Benfica Lisbon's Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk, applauded by the supporters, during the match of the 24th day of the Portuguese championship against Guimaraes, on February 27, 2022 in Lisbon PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP / Archives

"Your ovation is not for me, your ovation is for all the people and the soldiers who protect my family, my friends and all of Ukraine", reacted the player, who evolved this weekend with a black armband and must face Ajax Amsterdam in the eighth return of C1 on March 15.

Malinovskyi engaged

On the first day of the Russian invasion, Ruslan Malinovskyi joined international protests by sporting an anti-war t-shirt after the first of his two goals for Atalanta Bergamo against Olympiakos in Athens.

This "No War In Ukraine" message is now the profile photo of the Twitter account where the 28-year-old regularly posts photos of gutted buildings.

Atalanta Bergamo's Ukrainian midfielder Ruslan Malivovskyi expresses his support for his country, invaded by Russia, after his goal scored against Olympiakos, in the second leg of the Europa League play-offs, on February 24, 2022 in Athens Panayotis TZAMAROS INTIMATE NEWS/AFP/Archives

"It's not easy, but Ruslan is trying to play for our supporters, (...) even if something really serious is happening," testified his wife Roksana on Saturday in Corriere dello Sport.

With the support of a Bergamo supporters club, the Malinovskyi spouses organized an auction of signed Atalanta player shirts to raise funds for Ukraine.

During Thursday's Europa League match against Bayer Leverkusen, the same fan club plans to sell scarves showing two hands shaking, with the names of Malinovskyi and his Russian teammate Aleksey Miranchuk, according to the sports daily.

The two players, together for half an hour on the lawn on Saturday against Roma, also received the support of their partners: "The other day, when the madness of the war put Russia and Ukraine back to their backs, they hugged each other. And we got close to them and we will continue to do so in this difficult moment", testified the Italian Matteo Pessina.

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