Buffon saves and an extra Ibrahimovic card
The greatest interest among the fans this week was caused by the confrontation between Milan and Juventus in the semifinal of the Italian Cup. This was understandable, because such legends of world football as Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic converged in a full-time duel. In addition, Maurizio Sarri threw Gianluigi Buffon himself into battle.
The hosts, with the support of the crowded San Siro, went ahead from the very beginning and seized the initiative. In the first half, they created several dangerous moments at the opponent’s goal, but Buffon acted above all praise. However, after the break, the team Stefano Pioli still managed to score a veteran. Ante Rebic, using Samuel Castillejo's feed from the right flank, carefully sent the ball into the near corner.
Having scored, “Milan” has shifted to its gate. In addition, soon Theo Hernandez received a second yellow card for a foul on Paulo Dybal. And in the majority of “Juve” still managed to escape from defeat thanks to the penalty, which earned Cristiano Ronaldo. After the Portuguese hit in the fall, the ball fell into David Calabria’s hand, and the judge, watching the replay, pointed to the “point”. Ronaldo himself scored the penalty spot, scoring a goal in the eighth match for Juventus in a row.
Thus, the Turin managed to recoup in the 91st minute. The return match will take place in early March. Not only Hernandez, but also Ibrahimovic, who received the second yellow card in the current tournament draw, will not take part in it.
Fabian Ruiz's beautiful goal and Napoli historic victory
In another semifinal pair, “Napoli” away was stronger than “Inter” and for the first time since 1991 won the opening match of this stage of the competition. The meeting, in which the minimum number of points was created, was generally equal, and went on until the first goal scored. He was able to write on his own account Fabian Ruiz. The midfielder played the ball with a partner on the penalty line, walked away from the opponent and sent the shell exactly to the far corner.
Only after that did the “nerazzurri” activate and try to escape, but failed to break through David Ospina. Now they need to win on the road. And the team of Gennaro Gattuso, it seems, decided to bet on the Cup of the country in order to somehow brighten up the failed season.
Athletics and Real Sociedad victories in Spain
The first meetings of the National Cup took place in Spain. But on the Iberian Peninsula there were no sensations. So, on Wednesday, “Athletic” at home with a minimum score defeated the modest “Granada” thanks to a goal by Iker Muniain in the end of the first half.
And on Thursday, Real Sociedad turned out to be stronger than the Mirandes representing the Segund - 2: 1. The victorious goal among the hosts was Martin Edegor rented from Real Madrid.
The defeat of PSG and the end of the tale "Epinal"
Meanwhile, France held quarterfinal matches of the Cup of the country. On Tuesday, a ticket to the next round was secured by Rennes, who defeated the modest Belfort on the road. PSG confidently leading in League 1 experienced even less problems. Parisians with a tennis score beat Dijon - 6: 1. Moreover, at the beginning of the meeting, the rivals exchanged goals, but shortly before the break, the favorite again came forward, and in the second half scored four unanswered goals.
The double was designed by Pablo Sarabia, and Kilian Mbappe became the first PSG player who managed to excel in all tournaments this season. He has 15 precision shots in League 1, five in the Champions League, two in the French League Cup and one in the Super Cup and the Country Cup.
Much more intense turned out to be the derby “Lyon” - “Marseille”. However, the team of Rudi Garcia possessed an overwhelming advantage and won over to win. But for the time being the owners were very unlucky. In the middle of the second half, Mussa Dembélé did not even realize a penalty - Joanne Pele took the ball in the left corner of himself.
But when it seemed that the teams could not avoid the extra time, Ussem Auar took the shell in the right corner of the penalty area, sent it exactly to the net and brought “Lyon” to the semifinals. And the wards of Andre Villas-Boas not only suffered a disappointing defeat, but were left without their leader Dimitri Payet, who was injured.
Finally, the last semi-finalist of the tournament was Saint-Etienne, who not without difficulty knocked out one of the main sensations of the French Cup - Epinal, representing the country's fourth strongest division. The representative of League 1 after an hour of the game confidently led - 2-0, but then missed, and the ending came out quite tense. But the next miracle a modest team from a small town in the north-east of France failed to create.
Zlobin team success
And in Portugal, Benfica made it to the finals of the Country Cup, for which Ivan Zlobin stands. In the first match of the confrontation with Famalikan, the Lisbon won a difficult victory - 3: 2, and on the road were content with a draw, although they played most of the game. The Russian goalkeeper himself watched the meeting from the bench.
The rival of Benfica in the finals will be Porto, which defeated the Academic at home. One of the balls chalked up the ex-Spartak striker Ze Luis.
The defeat of the former wards of Slutsky
While the Cape Verdian was helping the Dragons make it to the finals, Leonid Slutsky’s former Vitesse team completed a performance in the Netherlands Cup. Arnemians at home met with the formidable Ajax and could not cope with the favorite.
The owners kept their gates in the castle for only half an hour, and then the experienced Ryan Babel opened an account. Closer to the final whistle, Vitess also remained in the minority, and the guests brought the matter to a rout. Now in the semifinals of the Amsterdam team there will be a confrontation with the main sensation of the NAK Bredoy tournament, playing in the sub-elite league.