Madrid, March 7: Manchester United settled for a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday.
United led on Joshua Zirkzee’s goal in the 58th minute but the hosts equalized 12 minutes later after Bruno Fernandes’ hand ball. Mikel Oyarzabal sent Andre Onana the wrong way from the penalty spot.The Europa League could be a way for United to finish the season with a trophy after crashing out of the FA Cup on Sunday.A spot in the quarterfinals will be on the line at Old Trafford in the second leg next Thursday.“Our decision-making in the final third was sometimes not the best, but we had good moments,” United manager Ruben Amorim said.
“It’s going to be a different game at Old Trafford and the pressure is going to be on us. We have to be ready.” Tottenham, also struggling in the Premier League, lost 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar.
Lucas Bergvall netted an own goal following the first corner kick of the game after former Spurs striker Troy Parrott’s attempt across the goal.Tottenham had beaten the Dutch team 1-0 in the league phase at home in October.Rangers took a big step toward the quarterfinals by stunning José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 3-1 in Istanbul.Mourinho won the Europa League with Man United in 2017. Czech forward Václav Cerný scored twice and Cyriel Dessers had a goal and an assist for Rangers.
Dessers gave them a dream start putting them ahead six minutes into the game.Substitute Alexander Djiku equalized in the 30th off a corner kick after half an hour. Djiku came on early to replace injured Çaglar Söyüncü in the 16th.Cerný restored a one-goal advantage for Rangers late in the first half from a tight angle on a counter with Dessers setting him up and added another one nine minutes from time.It was the first game in Europe for Rangers interim coach Barry Ferguson.
A Rangers fan died in Istanbul ahead of the match in a road traffic accident overnight.In Bucharest, substitute Malick Fofana scored two late goals to give Lyon a promising advantage after a 3-1 win over FCSB.
Chelsea register win in Conference League
Chelsea kept a perfect record in the third-tier Conference League with a 2-1 victory at Copenhagen.
Reece James and Enzo Fernández gave the London club a 2-0 lead in the second half before Gabriel Pereira reduced the deficit to one.
Cole Palmer started for Chelsea, his first appearance in the competition this season.Fiorentina, the runner-up in last two years in the competition, came from two goals down to level at 2-2 against Panathinaikos only 23 minutes into the game in Athens but forward Tetê scored in the 55th to give the hosts a 3-2 victory.
Real Betis and Vitória SC drew 2-2 while Molde defeated Legia Warsaw 3-2. Manchester United will look to capitalise on home advantage in the return leg at Old Trafford as they aim to keep their Europa League hopes alive. The draw in Spain leaves the tie delicately poised, with the Red Devils seeking to redeem their season after a string of disappointing exits in domestic competitions.
Meanwhile, Tottenham will have an uphill task to overturn their narrow deficit against AZ Alkmaar and progress to the next stage. Rangers’ impressive away triumph has bolstered their chances of advancing, with Barry Ferguson’s men taking a significant step towards the quarterfinals. Chelsea’s continued dominance in the Conference League adds to their quest for silverware, while Fiorentina will need to regroup after a setback in Athens. As the knockout stages heat up across Europe, the upcoming second-leg clashes promise high drama and decisive outcomes as clubs chase continental glory. With the stakes rising in the knockout rounds, the second-leg fixtures will test the resilience and ambition of teams vying for European success. Manchester United’s pursuit of silverware hinges on overcoming Real Sociedad at home, while Tottenham must produce a spirited fightback to avoid another early exit from Europe. Rangers’ commanding display in Istanbul has boosted their confidence, but they must remain vigilant to finish the job at Ibrox.
Chelsea’s unbeaten run in the Conference League highlights their intent to add to their trophy cabinet, while Fiorentina and other sides will seek redemption in their respective ties. As the road to the quarterfinals narrows, the coming week is set to deliver intense battles and defining moments across all three competitions. (AP)
