It was a mixed bag for British teams in the first Games of the Europa League on Thursday night. The main result of the night could be Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat against Az Alkmaar, Ange Postecoglou’s last chance to win a trophy in his second season with the club looking completely more challenging to go to the second stage at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in seven days.
Manchester United is well located in its round of 16 draw after drawing 1-1 in a somewhat impressive way for true society. Meanwhile, two sides of a visitor will feel that they are on the edge of the quarterfinals, since Lyon and the Rangers won 3-1 on FCSB and Rangers, recovered.
Europa League scores, accessories
All time et
- Az Alkmaar 1, Tottenham 0
- Real Sociedad 1, Manchester United 1
- FCSB 1, Lyon 3
- Fenerbahce 1, Rangers 3
- Viktoria Plzen vs. LAZIO, 3 PM (Paramount+)
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Olympiacos, 3 PM (Paramount+)
- Ajax vs. Frankfurt, 3 PM (Paramount+)
- Rome vs. Athletic Bilbao, 3 PM (Paramount+)
Fernandes renounces penalty when Manchester United moves away
Manchester United will feel that it is a mission fulfilled in what seemed to be a first leg from afar against true society. However, it could have been even better than a 1-1 draw if Bruno Fernandes had not granted a penalty shortly after Joshua Zirkzee had fired visitors to a first leg advantage in the Anoeta stadium.
United more than his stayed in the first half, struggling to create a large volume of opportunities for themselves, but ensuring that Andre Onana did not have a single opportunity to save. At the other end, Alex Remiro was completely busier and also his back center, Aritz Elustondo, who twice cleared the goal line when visitors turned the screw in the 36th minute. The best opportunity in half was not even in a shot, Diogo Dalot failed to pass a cross when Rasmus Hojlund exploded in the box.
Having survived a pressure wave at the beginning of the first half, United reaffirmed its quality and found a 57th minute.
Without evil Martin Zubimendi, the Real seemed to be fighting in all aspects of the game, struggling to protect the spaces in front of its penalty area and at the same time make a heavy climate of its ball progression through the United lines. It did not seem particularly that the hosts were applying greater pressure after the Zirkzee starter, but they were given an almighty relief when Var was seen a handball of Fernandes in a corner. Mikel Oyarzabal sent onana in the wrong way.
From then on, the San Sebastián team seemed much more likely to put the winner, replaces Sheraldo Becker, who takes Orri Oskarsson in the back post. The young man turned wide, maybe Leny Yoro had done enough to discourage his opponent. Oskarsson continued threatening in the final minutes, his impulse from a narrow angle attracting an intelligent salvation from Onana.
Careless spurs beaten in the Netherlands
There is more work for Tottenham to do when they return to European action next week after Lucas Bergvall’s own goal handed Az Alkmaar a victory in the AFAS stadium. The Londoners of the North dominated possession, but did little with it, registering only five shots, none of them in the target.
Postecoglou had appointed a strong side, but few among the visitors had a serious impact on the first leg, Mathys Tel withdrew in the half time without an opportunity in his name. Heung-min son doubled an effort in the second half. At the other extreme, spurs were perhaps fortunate to grant only one, granting 10 shots in their own penalty area.
To worsen things before the second stage next week, Dominic Solanke limited in the 90th minute after a collision in the AZ penalty area. Playing his first minutes since he suffered a knee injury in January, the 27 -year -old was replaced by Dane Scarlett with the final stages. Its manager will expect Solanke to be available in a week, where Spurs will have to be much better if they will stay alive in a competition that represents their last chance for cutlery this season.