ROMA–BRIGHTON
It was one of the most anticipated duels of the entire round of 16, but it seems that it was decided following just one game… The pairing was also spicy because of the two coaches and the playing styles: Daniele De Rossi learned a lot from the master of Brighton, his compatriot Roberto De Zerbi. The Romans beat the English at the point where they were most vulnerable: they kicked through their defense line. Thanks to the latter Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku also started in the first half, and both of them turned their chances into goals.
After that, Roma recovered completely, passed the area, and then split the Brighton defense even more with counterattacks. In the second half Gianluca Mancini is Bryan Cristante has also arrived, and the people of the Italian capital have probably already decided the fate of advancing… 4–0
Is that decided? (Photo: Getty Images)
Photo: Paolo Bruno
QARABAG–LEVERKUSEN
With ten rounds to go, Bayer Leverkusen is ten points ahead of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, but the 11-time champion should never be written off, so Xabi Alonso thought he was resting in the Europa League, not the league. Well, his team almost caught a cold on this, which fell behind by two goals at the beginning of the first half in Azerbaijan, as a Alex Reed of Qarabag – the 27-year-old Brazilian Juninho appeared with a goal and an assist.
Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz came at the beginning of the second half – Xabi Alonso sent in his stars. This was the result, as Wirtz made it better first, and Patrik Schick equalized in the 92nd minute. Leverkusen saved the match for the first time, and they will play the second leg at home, so they have every chance to advance, in fact… 2–2
EUROPEAN LEAGUE
QUARTER FINALS, 1. MATCHES
Sparta Praha (Czech Republic)-Liverpool (England) 1-5 (Bradley 46. – own goal, or Mac Allister 6. – from 11, D. Núnez 25., 45+3., L. Díaz 53., Szoboszlai 90+4.)
Roma (Italian)-Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 (Dybala 13., R. Lukaku 43., G. Mancini 64., Cristante 68.)
Qarabag (Azerbaijan) – Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) 2-2 (Benzia 26., Juninho 45+2., ill. Wirtz 70., Schick 90+2.)
LATER
21.00: Olympique Marseille (France)–Villarreal (Spain)
21.00: Benfica (Portugal) – Rangers (Scotland)
21.00: Freiburg (German) – West Ham United (English) (Tv: RTL3) – live on NSO!
21.00: Milan (Italian)–Slavia Praha (Czech Republic)
