Nantes, Monaco and Rennes were eliminated from the Europa League in the play-offs on Thursday.
The Europa League play-offs have given their verdict, and it is (very) painful for French football, which no longer has any representatives after the play-offs. Opposed to Shakhtar Donetsk, Thursday February 23, Rennes had the game in hand before cracking in extra time and falling during the penalty shootout (2-1, 4-5 on pens). Earlier in the evening, FC Nantes was powerless against Juventus (0-3), when Monaco did not take their chance against Bayer Leverkusen (2-3, 3 tab 5). There is therefore no longer any French club involved in C3.
Rennes, Nantes and Monaco on the way
After the feat of the first leg (1-1), FC Nantes challenged Juventus in its supercharged enclosure, Beaujoire. But the fever of the Nantes supporters did not turn the head of the Old Lady. Picked cold from their nest by a hunter named Angel Di Maria, author of three fateful shots, the Nantes lost heavily (3-0), without ever being able to hope for a miracle. And for good reason: after twenty minutes of play, they were already down 2-0 and reduced to ten, following a handball from Nicolas Pallois on his goal line. Which did not prevent the Canaries from singing until the end of the night.
On the Rock, the atmosphere was more subdued, as always, but Monaco believed in it much longer. Jostled by Bayer Leverkusen, the Asemists snatched the extension thanks to a header from Breel Embolo at the end of the match (84th), which came to respond to the achievements of Florian Wirtz, Exequiel Palacios and Amine Adli (2-3). Winner in the first leg (3-2), Monaco was too uninspired to hope to get out of it. In the end, it was the penalty shootout that sealed the fate of the Principality players, eliminated after Eliot Matazo’s failed attempt.
A scenario that was unfortunately repeated later, at Roazhon Park. However, Stade Rennais was heading towards the round of 16, leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from Karl Toko Ekambi (52nd), then adding another in extra time thanks to winter rookie Ibrahim Salah (106th). Bruno Génésio’s players were virtually qualified until the 119th minute, until the atmosphere suddenly cooled. At the very last minute, Shakthar reduced the gap on a counter-attack by the unfortunate Jeanuel Belocian – in tears -, synonymous with a penalty shootout. And like Monaco, Rennes cracked in this exercise, and is eliminated.
Manchester United win the clash of the giants
A theater of dreams full as an egg and noisy as rarely, Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands, a host of stars on the lawn… This Manchester United – FC Barcelona had everything of a gala poster. Especially since the first leg did not disappoint (2-2). A week after the first round at Camp Nou, the two behemoths of this Europa League once again went blow for blow. Leaders of La Liga, the Catalans dominated the first act, which they finished with an advantage of a small goal, thanks to a penalty from Robert Lewandowski (18th).
But Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United is in the midst of a renaissance, and the Red Devils have found some teeth after returning from the locker room. The Brazilian Fred, omnipresent, first reset the counters to zero (1-1, 47th), before his twirling compatriot Antony gave his team the advantage (2-1, 73rd). Transfigured in this second act, the Mancunians suffocated the Barcelonans, who left the European scene early, they who had been transferred from the Champions League in the fall.
Ajax on the mat, Seville got hot
In the rest of the meetings, no big surprise apart from the elimination of Ajax Amsterdam, which fell on the lawn of Union Berlin (3-1). Beaten 2-0 in Eindhoven, Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla FC continues its journey thanks to its 3-0 victory in the first leg. AS Roma for its part disposed of Salzburg (2-0), while Sporting Portugal gave Midtjylland no chance (4-0).
These eight teams join those already qualified for the round of 16: Arsenal, Fenerbahçe, Betis, Union Saint-Gilloise, Real Sociedad, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Freiburg and Ferencvaros. The draw will take place on Friday at noon.
