Queensy Menig gave Partizan Belgrade a victory on Thursday evening when visiting Sparta Prague in the Conference League. Due to a late hit by the Dutchman, Partizan provided itself with a good starting position for the return: 0-1. Bodö/Glimt, the champions of Norway who played the last official game on December 12, stunted with a 1-3 win over Celtic. Runar Espejord, who was taken over from sc Heerenveen last month after failing in the Netherlands, had a goal and an assist. Arek Milik led Olympique Marseille with a double to a 3-1 victory over Qarabag, while Leicester City settled with Randers: 4-1.
Sparta Prague – Partizan Belgrade 0-1
Menig had a basic place at Partizan, which finished second behind AA Gent in the group stage with eight points. In the fourth minute, Lazar Markovic forced goalkeeper Dominik Holec to intervene, but then Sparta became more threatening. A header from David Hancko and a rebound from Adam Karabec put goalkeeper Aleksandar Popovic to the test. There were fewer chances in the second half, but Menig made the difference twelve minutes before the end. The attacker was launched by a long ball from Sasa Zdjelar and deftly tipped the ball diagonally past keeper Holec.
Queensy Menig with a beautiful goal for Partizan Belgrade! †#UEL pic.twitter.com/RnQhNLdIOI
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) February 17, 2022
Celtic – Bodö/Glimt 1-3
Bodö/Glimt was one of the surprises in the Conference League group stage, going unbeaten and taking twelve points in a group with AS Roma. At home, the Norwegians even beat Roma 6-1, but second place turned out to be the highest attainable. Visiting Celtic, Bodö/Glimt continued their good form with an early goal. Good teamwork in Celtic’s half resulted in Espejord’s low, effective shot. After the break he gave a nice heel to Amahl Pellegrino and therefore also received the assist at the 0-2; then Espejord was substituted. Daizen Maeda brought the tension back with a header into the far corner, but with a mop ball changed from distance, Hugo Vetlesen determined the final score at 1-3.
Olympique Marseille – Qarabag 3-1
With two goals in a short space of time, between minutes 41 and 44, Arek Milik gave the home team a 2-0 lead. The Pole ran free after a corner from Konrad de la Fuente and ventured a header; goalkeeper Luka Gugeshashvili came out, but made a mistake. Patrick Andrade took the header off the line, but Milik hit the rebound in the rebound. Then Pape Gueye offered him an unmissable opportunity in the box and the striker scored the second goal of the evening. Qarabag then had many chances on the connecting goal and rewarded himself via Kady, but in stoppage time substitute Dimitri Payet lifted the margin to two with a bet at the far post.
Leicester City – Randers 4-1
Randers, who finished second behind AZ in the group stage with seven points, fell behind halfway through the first half. The Leicester players found each other in the tight spaces in the enemy penalty area and eventually Wilfred Ndidi pulled the trigger. Vito Hammershöy-Mistrati ensured a 1-1 halftime score with a low shot in the last minute of the first half after preparatory work by Tosin Kehinde. Shortly after the break, Harvey Barnes made it 2-1 after a chaotic situation in the penalty area and Patson Daka rebounded to make it 3-1. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall determined the final score after being given a big chance by the efforts of Ademola Lookman.
