The failure of Ajax and the concert from Babel

Last season, Ajax made a fuss in the Champions League and became the main opening of the tournament. However, after the loss of a number of leaders, the Amsterdam team this year was content with just getting into the playoffs of the second-largest European competition.

The wards of Eric ten Hag began their journey in the Europa League with an away defeat from Getafe. And initially it was clear that the guests would have a hard time. For example, “Krasnodar” at the group stage of the tournament already had the opportunity to make sure how inconvenient this opponent is.

The third team at the moment, the Examples, played on their strengths and did not allow anything to be done to the venerable opponent. There were practically no moments at the gates of the wards of Pepe Bordalas. Amsterdam never even managed to break through on target.

“Getafe”, however, at first in the 37th minute of the match in the corporate style converted the standard position into a goal, and already in the time added to the second half, he put an end to the counterattack - 2: 0.

The match was also remembered for a comic episode involving Ajax midfielder Ryan Babel. The footballer was so furious with the simulation from Allan Niom that he also began to ride on the grass, mimicking his opponent. Later, Ryan depicted his limping walk, for which he received a yellow card.

Controversial VAR and victory of the Ukrainian team

If the Russian clubs couldn’t make it to the playoffs of the European Cups, then Ukraine at this stage is represented by one team - Shakhtar. Moreover, the Pitmen got Benfica into rivals in the 1/16 finals of the Europa League, not allowing Zenit to leave the group in the Champions League.

And Shakhtar, who had a home match in Kharkiv, managed with the current champion of Portugal. The hosts had enough points to win a landslide victory, but were content with two goals scored.

At the same time, in the middle of the first half, the judge canceled the goal of Marlos because of a controversial offside. This is the first time in the history of the LE playoffs when the referee used the VAR system, if you do not take into account the final match of the tournament of the last season.

In the second half, the referee again turned to the video reruns and awarded a penalty to the goal of Shakhtar. The score is even. But 20 minutes before the final whistle, Viktor Kovalenko after a cross from Junior Moraes from the front brought victory to the wards of Luis Castro.

Failures of the Portuguese teams and the benefit of the potential newcomer "Spartacus"

In general, the game day was not very successful for the Portuguese clubs. Of the four teams representing this country in the LE playoffs, only Sporting won. But the “Port” and “Braga” after the “Benfica” suffered away defeats from the “Bayer” and “Rangers”, respectively.

The match in Glasgow turned out to be a real decoration of the gaming day. Wards of Stephen Gerrard missed in the opening of the meeting, and in the 59th minute the guests doubled the lead. It seemed that the outcome of the confrontation was a foregone conclusion.

However, the owners in their native Aybroks simply did not have the right to give up and as a result created an impressive comeback. In 15 minutes, the Rangers scored three times and won a strong-willed victory. The double in their composition was designed by Janis Hadji, who in the summer could have moved to Spartak, but ended up in Genka. In late January, the Romanian went on a loan to Scotland.

The absolute success of Germany

Speaking about the representatives of the leading European championships, the most successful were the German teams, having won three victories. In addition to Bayer, Wolfsburg and Eintracht were successful.

Especially confidently won the team from Frankfurt am Main, which defeated Salzburg - 4: 1, having flown out of the Champions League without visible problems. Without their main scorer, Erling Holland, who moved to the Dortmund Borussia in late December, Jesse Marsh's wards could not oppose anything to the opponent.

The Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada was noted as a hat-trick among the hosts. The 23-year-old football player scored three goals in one meeting for the first time in his career.

Misfire “Manchester United” and a hard victory for “Arsenal”

Submarine teams were slightly less successful. In particular, Manchester United failed to defeat Brugge on the go. Moreover, for most of the meeting, the hosts looked preferable to the mixed composition of the Mankunians and could well have won.

The Belgian club came forward already in the 15th minute after Sergio Romero imprudently ran out of the gate and allowed Emmanuel Dennis to throw himself. It is curious that goalkeeper Simon Mignole marked the assist in this episode.

He became the first goalkeeper in 4.5 years, who managed to earn a point for performance in the Europa League. The previous time, this was done by Marinato Guillerme from Lokomotiv, who gave the transfer to Baye Umar Nyassa in a victory match with Sporting (3: 1).

The guests managed to recoup even before the break thanks to a successful rally - Anthony Martial scored, but the favorite of the match did not manage to win, although in the second half, Manchester United had some good points.

Arsenal was also close to misfire, but ten minutes before the end the Londoners still snatched away the away victory over Olympiacos thanks to the excellent transfer of 18-year-old Bukayo Saki and the exact blow of Alexander Lazakett.

In turn, Wolverhampton did not experience any problems in the home game against Espanyol. The former rival of CSKA, leading a difficult struggle for survival in the Example, clearly relied on the national championship. The coaching staff of the Spanish team released the second composition on the field, and the hosts won a landslide victory - 4: 0. Three of four goals were scored by Portuguese Wolverhampton forward Diogo Jota.

Eriksen's debut ball and Roma quick goal

One hundred percent showed not only German, but also Italian clubs. “Roma” and “Inter” marked predictable victories. The Romans beat the Belgian “Gent” with a minimum score thanks to a goal by Carles Saiol in the 13th minute.

And nerazzurri had to suffer a lot with CSKA offender - Ludogortsy. “Inter” did not manage to score, but towards the end of the meeting the score was nevertheless opened by newcomer Christian Eriksen. For him, this ball was the debut for the Italian club. Already in the time added by the referee, a point from the penalty spot was put in by substitute Romelu Lukaku, who had previously assisted the Dane.