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Thursday, November 7, 2024

Leipzig and Porto ensure qualification, Sevilla trembled until the end –

This early Thursday evening, four Europa League return matches were played. After the spectacular draw in the first leg (2-2), Real Sociedad and Leipzig faced off for the decisive match. With the away goal rule abolished, only a win could ensure qualification. In a rather rhythmic start to the match, it was Christopher Nkunku’s teammates who opened the scoring, outside. After a penalty missed by Silva (39th), Orban followed well and pushed the ball into the back of the net. A one-goal advantage that the Germans managed to hold as they drove home the point after the break thanks to a jewel from Silva. After a good recovery from Simakan, the Portuguese sent a missile into the top corner (60th) and which above all allowed his team to ensure qualification for the next round despite the reduction in the score of Zubimendi (69th) and the third goal from Forsberg ( 90th).

In the other shock, FC Porto, victorious in the first leg against Lazio (2-1), traveled to Italy to do the job. But Pepe’s band will have suffered a lot in this meeting against the Romans who were pushing very early in the match. After seeing a first goal disallowed, Ciro Immobile found the flaw in this meeting and launched his team (19th). But Porto equalized quickly thanks to a penalty from Taremi (30th). The Portuguese then held the score and even believed to offer victory thanks to the goal of Uribe (69th). Cataldi equalized in the final seconds (90th+5). In vain. Porto qualify for the next round.

Atalanta without trembling, Sevilla trembled

After their big victory last week against Zagreb, Sevilla FC approached the return match with serenity. The teammates of Jules Koundé, holder in defense this Thursday evening, were however worried in this meeting. After a serious first period, they were still surprised on the hour mark after a penalty converted by Orsic (65th). Enough to revive the suspense of the meeting since another goal from the Croats would have made it possible to snatch the extensions. But the Sevillians held on until the end and qualified despite their defeat.

In Greece, against Olympiakos, Atalanta confirmed its good performance in the first leg. In a full and lively stadium, the Italians won thanks to a goal from Joakim Maehle in the first period. Olympiakos, with Mathieu Valbuena who played around thirty minutes, tried to come back to score, without ever succeeding in disrupting an Atalanta defense, well in place. Ruslan Malinovsky, the Ukrainian striker, definitely assured the victory, by scoring a double in two minutes (67th, 69th) including a sublime strike full skylight.

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