Updated
The clash at the top of the Europa League play-offs did not find a winner (1-1). For Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, the task is complicated.
Piotr Zielinski opened the scoring for Napoli in the first half. But Ferran Torres answered him
AFP
Everything remains open between Barcelona and Naples. Only one of these two formations will participate in the knockout stages of the Europa League, and following the first leg of the play-offs, neither has really taken precedence over the other. At Camp Nou on Thursday, they separated 1-1.
However, we will have to find a way to decide between them next week in Naples, especially since away goals no longer have any importance in the European Cup. On this first duel, Naples did not deserve, despite a possession clearly to the advantage of Barça. But it was the Italians who opened the scoring, half an hour into the game. After good work from Elijf Elmas on the right side, Piotr Zielinski was served back by the Macedonian. His first strike, with the left foot, was repelled by Marc-André Ter Stegen. But the second attempt by the Pole, with the right foot, left the Blaugrana goalkeeper no chance.
Led at the break, the Catalans however found a way to come back to score. In this undertaking, the VAR and his attendant were of great help. It is indeed them who recalled the Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs in front of the screen. It must be said that, a few long seconds earlier, Juan Jesus had grazed a cross from Adama Traoré with his fingertips. Enough to award a penalty to Barça. Ferran Torres, one of the recruits of the winter, took care of it to transform it (59th). And therefore keep all the suspense before the return match, despite a Barcelona push at the end of the match.
Bad night for Dortmund
For Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, the task promises to be extremely complicated for their trip to the Glasgow Rangers lawn next Thursday. With Gregor Kobel and Manuel Akanji lined up, the German team sank in their Signal-Iduna Park, losing a very heavy score of 4-2.
Raphaël Guerreiro’s goal, on a fine strike in the 82nd minute, has the merit of maintaining a semblance of hope. But Marco Rose’s men will have to produce something else once morest the hard-hitting Scots (without Cedric Itten, who is not in the plans of his trainer Giovanni van Bronckhorst).
Remo Freuler’s European evening, on the other hand, went better. Spared and entered in the 72nd minute, the vice-captain of Atalanta Bergamo helped his team to secure their 2-1 victory once morest Olympiacos. Albanian international Berat Djimsiti, trained at FC Zurich, scored twice for the Italians. Porto beat Lazio 2-1, while Sevilla won 3-1 once morest Dinamo Zagreb. Finally, Leipzig and Real Sociedad separated with the score of 2-2.
Marseille, Leicester and Slavia Prague won their first leg in the Europa League Conference play-offs on Thursday and took an option on qualifying for the round of 16, as Celtic were beaten at home.
The Marseillais dominated the Azerbaijanis of Qarabag 3-1 at the Stade Vélodrome thanks in particular to a double from Milik, while Leicester easily disposed of the Danish club Randers 4-1.
Slavia Prague created a surprise by winning 3-2 at Fenerbahçe. The other club in the Czech capital, Sparta, were beaten 1-0 at home by Partizan Belgrade.
Celtic were surprised in Glasgow by the Norwegian formation of Bodo/Glimt 3-1.
PSV Eindhoven was content with a 1-0 success once morest Maccabi Tel-Aviv, as did Danish club Midtjylland once morest Paok Salonika. Rapid Vienna overcame Vitesse Arnhem 2-1.
At the end of the return matches on February 24, the winners of the play-offs will face the teams that finished first in their group during the first phase of this C4, including AS Roma, Rennes and Feyenoord.
