The Europa League campaign of Peter Bosz’s Bayer Leverkusen, Daley Sinkgraven, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Jeremie Frimpong is over. The Swiss Young Boys won 0-2 in the BayArena, after the first leg was already won 4-3 last week. AC Milan narrowly qualified for the eighth finals: after a 2-2 draw in the first leg against Red Star Belgrade, a 1-1 draw in the return was sufficient based on away goals. AS Roma also remains in the race for the Europa League, after SC Braga has been settled.
Bayer Leverkusen – BSC Young Boys 0-2
It never seemed that the return would be as goal-rich as last week’s encounter. Then it was already 3-0 for Young Boys at half time; this time there were hardly any serious chances in the first half. Leverkusen, with Jeremie Frimpong and Daley Sinkgraven in the base and Timothy Fosu-Mensah on the bench, was the parent without getting too dangerous. Shortly after the break, however, Young Boys opened the score. Sinkgraven lost the ball in the own half to Ngoumo Ngamaleu, who sent a deep pass to Elia Meschack. After a cross from the right winger, keeper Niklas Lomb let the ball slip out of the hand, allowing Theoson Siebatcheu to take advantage from close range: 0-1. Leverkusen needed two goals, but it was Young Boys that took the game for good: in the final phase, Christian Fassnacht scored after a fast counter.
AC Milan – Red Star Belgrade 1-1
After a 2-2 draw in Belgrade last week, the return of the encounter with Red Star had a dream start for Milan. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano from Spain was called to the screen by the VAR after six minutes of play, after an apparently hopeless shot by Rade Krunic hit the hand of Marko Gobeljic. Franck Kessié took advantage of the penalty kick and gave Milan the lead early on. However, Red Star was not put off and quickly made itself known. After a goal was canceled due to a handball and El Fardou Ben Nabouhane hit the bar, the visitors tied the score.
Mirko Ivanic served Nabouhane, who controlled the doctrine in the penalty area and hit the far corner. Ante Rebic failed to give Milan the lead early in the game, after which i Rossoneri twice got away well from opportunities for Ivanic and Sekou Sanogo Junior. At the last opportunity goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made an excellent save. After Gobeljic’s second yellow card, the chances for Red Star diminished considerably. However, the 1-1 score did not change, partly because a hit by Alexis Saelemaekers was rejected due to offside. Milan thus places itself on the basis of away goals for the last 32 of the Europa League.
AS Roma – SC Braga 3-1
While the home team, given last week’s favorable result (0-2 win), was in no hurry to force a breakthrough, the visitors were unable to break through the Roman wall. This turned out not to be a successful formula for an attractive competition, although the deadlock came to an end halfway through the first act. Stephan El Shaarawy, who made his basic debut since returning to the club, hit the post with a placed shot, after which Edin Dzeko was in the right place to open the score from the rebound: 1-0. Just before half time, Pedro hoped to double the margin, but his shot hit the crossbar.
Roma, who kicked off with Rick Karsdorp as usual, remained in control of the game even after tea, without throwing unnecessary strength. After a foul in the box by João Novais on Carles Pérez, Lorenzo Pellegrini got the opportunity to make the 2-0 from a penalty kick, but he missed the opportunity and fired wide. A few minutes later, Pellegrini made up for his mistake by delivering an excellent pass to Carles Pérez, who then finished nicely: 2-0. Although Braga still found the tying goal through an own goal by Bryan Cristante, it was Borja Mayoral who put the 3-1 final score on the scoreboard on a pass from Leonardo Spinazzola.