Manchester United took a giant step on their way to the semi-finals in the Europa League on Thursday evening. The team of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was visiting Granada 0-2 too strong due to goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes. In London, Arsenal against Slavia Prague put an end to a drought of almost four hours in their own Emirates Stadium. With that, the team could not prevent Slavia from coming alongside in the final minute: 1-1.
Granada – Manchester United 0-2
In a not very uplifting first half, a streaker caused the first moment of excitement after five minutes of play. The Solskjaer team then had little to fear from the number nine of LaLiga, without coming to great opportunities themselves. The first time the visitors became really dangerous, it was immediately hit. Victor Lindelöf put the ball nicely behind the defense, after which Rashford controlled nicely and finished cold-blooded eye to eye with goalkeeper Rui Silva: 0-1. Other than a shot at the post by Yangel Herrera, United suffered the greatest damage via Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw, who saw yellow and are therefore not available for the return at Old Trafford next week.
The second half meant significantly less danger to both goals, as United tried to defend the lead and Granada was unable to make it really difficult for the visitors. Solskjaer brought Donny van de Beek within the lines just under ten minutes before time and saw how Fernandes killed the biggest chance in the second half just before. The midfielder hit Silva’s left hand after trying to find the right corner with a placed ball. The game was decided in the final minute of the game by the same Fernandes, who was allowed to build from eleven meters after a foul by Yan Brice Eteki: 0-2.
Arsenal – Slavia Prague 1 – 1
Mikel Arteta changed his squad to a whopping six positions in contrast to the 0-3 defeat to Liverpool last Saturday. Martin Ödegaard was not there at all due to a minor injury, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pépé, among others, started on the bench. The home team already screamed for a penalty kick after five minutes of play, when Bukayo Saka was brought to the ground. However, referee Andreas Ekberg did not want to do it and let play continue. The same Saka attacked Slavia’s goal after half an hour of play when he was at the end of a nice attack. The midfielder lacked precision in the completion. Just before that, Lukás Provod tried on behalf of Slavia with a volley from the edge of the penalty area, but he also failed to hit a goal.
Arsenal, which had been dry for more than four hours in their own Emirates Stadium, were close to the opening goal shortly after the break, when Willian shot a free kick from the right on the outside of the post. Alexandre Lacazette also touched aluminum. The striker enjoyed a free passage after scrapping Oscar Dorley from the center line, but saw the fall bounce back into the field from the bottom of the crossbar. When the game seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, substitute Pépé seemed to help Arsenal after all. The winger only went to goalkeeper Andrej Kolar and finished in a controlled manner with a marker: 1-0. Arsenal seemed to take the win, but had to see how Slavia came alongside in injury time. Tomás Holes headed home at the second right after a passed corner kick: 1-1.
Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 Villarreal
There were opportunities for both teams in the first half. Kévin Théophile-Catherine missed from close range on behalf of Dinamo Zagreb with the head, while Alfonso Pedraza’s shot on the other side was blocked by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Moreno claimed a penalty after half an hour after a touch by Livakovic and received his desired penalty kick just before half time because of a handball from Théophile-Catherine. The attacker of Villarreal shot it in himself: 0-1. After the break, the Spaniards could have increased the lead, but Paco Alcácer missed from about eight meters and Manu Trigueros’ ricocheted long shot was tapped over.