Thriller at Old Trafford
In the most anticipated match of the day, Manchester United and Barcelona battled for a place in the 1/8 finals.
A week ago, Eric ten Hag's wards pulled out a draw at a party and could well be considered favorites.
But not only native walls allowed them to be preferred.
Due to an injury, Pedri did not fly to England, and Gavi was disqualified due to a bust of yellow cards.
And this circumstance could become a serious problem for Xavi, who largely relies on the talent of his young pupils.
But even in a weakened composition, the Catalans had a good first half and even took the lead.
In the 16th minute, Bruno Fernandes knocked Alex Balde down on the lawn in his own penalty area and gave Clement Turpin a reason to appoint a 11-meter penalty.
Robert Lewandowski approached the point and, although not without difficulty, converted a penalty.
David De Gea reached for the ball, but it treacherously flew into the net.
The Red Devils needed someone who would help them pick up the pace and increase the pressure on the opponent's defense to the limit.
And they became Anthony.
Let the score in the 47th minute be equalized by another Brazilian - Fred, but it was his compatriot who provoked a turning point in the match, and subsequently brought the team victory.
The guests had nothing to say.
Once again, Lewandowski looked extremely faded, and Rafinha and Ferran Torres, who came off the bench, could not turn the tide of confrontation.
Barcelona lost to Manchester United for the first time since 2008 and ended their European competition.
Manchester United players Anthony and Bruno Fernandes
Gettyimages.ru
© Martin Rickett - PA Images / Contributor
German successes
Two representatives of the Bundesliga also made their way to the next stage of the championship.
But if Union dealt with Ajax quite confidently, then Bayer had a hard time.
At home Leverkusen were beaten 2:3 and forced to open up.
And at first things worked out well for them.
By the 21st minute, they were leading - the guests answered the exact blow of Wissam Ben Yedder from the penalty spot with goals from Florian Wirtz and Exequiel Palacios.
And after the break, they completely pulled ahead in the sum of two meetings, when Amin Adli closed the partner's gorgeous throw.
However, Monaco did not give up.
First, the same Ben Yedder shook the crossbar, and then Alexander Golovin organized a dangerous attack.
It was his throw into the penalty area that led to the strike of Elissa Ben-Segira, but Lukas Hradecki was on the alert.
But already in the 84th minute, the Monegasques still got their way.
Bril Embolo irresistibly struck his head and turned the game into overtime.
An additional half an hour did not reveal a victor, and in the 11-meter series, the Bayer players were more successful.
Eliot Matazo hit the crossbar and crossed out the hopes of the Monegasques to continue the fight for the trophy, while the guests were unmistakable all five performers.
Including Serdar Azmun.
"Union" was in a much more advantageous position.
The match in Amsterdam ended in a goalless draw, therefore, it was enough for the Berliners to win at home with a minimal difference.
However, the wards of Urs Fischer overfulfilled the plan and scored three goals, conceding only one.
The main creator of success was Josip Yuranovich.
The current bronze medalist of the 2022 World Cup scored the winning goal (albeit thanks to the goalkeeper's grossest mistake), and helped Danilo Duki to strengthen the advantage.
Bayer Leverkusen players in the match with Monaco in the Europa League
Gettyimages.ru
© Jonathan Moscrop / Contributor
Rehabilitation of Juventus and Sporting
In anticipation of the return matches, the teams from Turin and Lisbon were in similar conditions.
A week ago, both surprised with a "minus" and sensationally tied with "Nantes" and "Midtjylland", respectively, and risked not even passing the first round of the playoffs of the Europa League.
However, they synchronously gathered and demonstrated their class.
Juventus scored three unanswered goals, and Sporting did not leave a stone unturned from the opponent at all - 4:0.
In Nantes, the intrigue died already in the 17th minute, and only Angel Di Maria was “guilty” of this.
He not only created a real masterpiece, hitting the gates of Alban Lafon with an incredible trajectory, but subsequently earned and converted a penalty, provoking the removal of Nicolas Pallois along the way.
The defender played a hand in the goalkeeper's area and deservedly received a red card.
Juventus rushed to finish off the opponent and scored a total of 3.3 expected goals (xG), but this evening only one person was destined to excel.
The current world champion scored the first hat-trick since 2018 and led the "old lady" to the 1/8 finals.
It is noteworthy that Midtjylland was also forced to play most of the confrontation with ten men.
True, the expulsion of Paulinho from the field took place in two stages - in the 36th minute he received a “yellow card”, and after two and the second.
And although even in the minority, the wards of Albert Capellas tried to snap, they could no longer impose a fight.
A double from Pedro Gonçalves and an accurate header from Sebastian Coates provided Sporting with a solid advantage, and in the 85th minute the hosts were finally demoralized by their own defender.
Stefan Gartenmann did not notice how the goalkeeper moved away from the target, and sent the ball into his own goal.
Roma followed the example of eminent teams, which sensationally lost to Salzburg a week ago.
This time around, it wasn't easy for her either.
The Austrians gave a real fight to the favorite and inflicted only one blow less (15:16), but unlike the rivals, they did not convert any of them.
Wards José Mourinho did it twice, and with a difference of only seven minutes.
Both balls turned out like a blueprint.
First, Andrea Belotti, and then Paulo Dybala closed the crosses of the jet Leonardo Spinazzola into the penalty area and brought the "wolves" to the next stage.
Juventus football player Angel Di Maria
Gettyimages.ru
© Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC / Contributor
Wasted comebacks by Rennes and PSV
Unlike Roma, the representatives of Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie were unable to avenge the defeats of a week ago and go further.
But, to be honest, PSV had practically no chance of this.
At Ramon Sanchez Pisjuan, the Dutch were crushed 0-3 and needed a miracle.
And it almost happened.
In the 77th minute, Luc de Jong scored a prestige goal, and in the fifth minute Fabio Silva reduced the gap to a minimum.
But there just wasn't enough time for more.
Rennes should be much more offensive.
Bruno Genesio's wards dominated throughout the meeting and delivered three times more shots than the rivals from Shakhtar (23:7).
Moreover, a minute before the end of overtime, the French were leading 2-0 and were one foot in the 1/8 finals, when the ball was cut into his own net by Jeanuel Belosyan.
And it broke them.
In the series of 11-meter shots, they missed three times and let the Pitmen go further.
PSV players after the match against Sevilla in the Europa League
Gettyimages.ru
© BSR Agency / Contributor