News Archive

Europa League, round of 32, first leg

A fairly disastrous night for Spanish clubs in the Europa League, Celta and Villarreal both losing at home, and Athletic Bilbao only managing a narrow 3-2 win against APOEL Nicosia. The Basque side went behind to a strike from Efrem, and although a Merkis own goal and two in the second half from Aduríz and Williams turned the result around, Giannitos scored a second away goal for the visitors near the end. Celta were beaten 0-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk, Blanco getting the only goal for the Ukrainians midway through the first half, and Villarreal were thrashed 0-4 by Roma, Emerson giving the Italians a first half lead, and Dzeko completing a hat-trick after the break. (16.02.17)

Athletic Bilbao 3 – APOEL Nicosia 2

Athletic Bilbao still have work to do after a 3-2 victory over APOEL Nicosia on Thursday night. The Basque side dominated for most of the first half, but with ten minutes to go to the break the visitors scored with their first shot at goal, Efrem curling the ball past Iraizoz after Vinicius put him through. Two minutes later the locals were level when Merkis headed a wayward shot from Balenziaga in off his own crossbar, and after the restart Aduríz and Williams scored two more to give their team what looked like a comfortable lead. However Iraizoz had to push a De Camargo header against the post, and with two minutes to go Giannotas scored a second away goal for the Cypriot side. Athletic now need at least a draw in next week’s return leg to be sure of going through.

Villarreal 0 – Roma 4

Villarreal are all but mathematically out of this season’s Europa League after they were thrashed 0-4 by Roma in their first leg tie. Emerson gave the Italians the lead with an impressive shot from outside of the area shortly before half time, and although Bakambu went close and Mario tested Alisson after the break, Dzeko made it two a few minutes later. The visiting keeper did well to hold on to a low Sansone free kick, but Dezeko scored two more after that to complete his hat-trick and leave Fran Escribá’s team down and out.

Celta 0 – Shakhtar Donetsk 1

Not the best eight days for Celta, and after getting knocked out of the semi-finals of the Spanish cup and then throwing away the lead to lose against Atlético, they are now in danger of being eliminated from the Europa League after a 0-1 defeat at home to Shakhtar Donetsk. Bongonda missed an early chance for the Galicians, but a few minutes later the Ukrainians launched a counter-attack following a Celta corner, and although Bongonda blocked a shot from Marlos, Blanco turned the rebound in to the net. Either side of half time Fred and Taison failed to convert chances, and at the other end Pablo Hernández and Guidetti had penalty appeals turned down, and Cabral and Guidetti both fired shots off target. Still hope though of turning things around in next week’s second leg, which will be played in Kharkiv due to the political unrest in the South East of Ukraine.