Europa League: Barcelona and Manchester United draw thriller as Juventus held-Sports activities Information , Firstpost

Barcelona’s Gavi and Manchester United’s Raphael Varane vie for an aerial ball through the first leg within the Europa League at Camp Nou. AP

Barcelona: Barcelona and Manchester United performed out an exciting 2-2 draw within the first leg of their Europa League play-off tie on Thursday, whereas Juventus have been left annoyed by Nantes in a 1-1 stalemate.

The sport on the Camp Nou introduced collectively two European giants who met in two Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011, and who’re each in wonderful kind domestically.

After a goalless first half, LaLiga leaders Barcelona went forward 5 minutes into the second half because of a Marcos Alonso header at a nook.

Nevertheless, United drew degree simply three minutes later when Marcus Rashford beat Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen at his close to publish to attain a thirteenth aim in 15 video games for the reason that World Cup.

The Premier League aspect then took the lead simply earlier than the hour mark by means of a Jules Kounde personal aim, however a Raphinha cross flew in inside the ultimate quarter of an hour to safe a draw for Barca earlier than a crowd of greater than 90,000.

“I believe it was an awesome sport. Two attacking groups, I believe it was a Champions League sport, much more than that,” United boss Erik ten Hag instructed broadcaster BT Sport. “We have now to complete it in Outdated Trafford.”

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez was left complaining that his aspect ought to have had a penalty for a handball by Fred.

“It’s a stolen penalty,” mentioned Xavi. “I don’t know why they don’t whistle for penalties for handball now. It appears unimaginable to me. Unimaginable.”

Profitable the Europa League might characterize the very best likelihood for Juventus to return to the Champions League subsequent season after they have been handed a 15-point deduction in Serie A.

That punishment, for what the Italian Soccer Federation dominated was illicit switch exercise designed to artificially increase their accounts, has left the Turin giants 12 factors adrift of the highest 4 at house.

Towards Nantes they appeared on track for a snug win when Federico Chiesa nodded a ball throughout the face of aim for Dusan Vlahovic to open the scoring early on.

However French Cup holders Nantes equalised on the breakaway on the hour when Ludovic Blas ran by means of to complete emphatically.

A Chiesa shot then hit the underside of the bar and bounced down with out fairly the entire ball crossing the road, earlier than it struck the publish and rebounded away.

Nantes additionally survived a VAR penalty verify for a handball deep in damage time, the referee as a substitute giving them a free-kick and leaving Juventus with work to do within the return.

Sevilla win, Roma lose

Elsewhere, Monaco got here from behind to triumph 3-2 away towards Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, with Axel Disasi scoring the winner within the 92nd minute.

An personal aim by Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky had put Monaco forward early on just for second-half objectives by Moussa Diaby and Florian Wirtz to show the sport round.

Nevertheless, Krepin Diatta pulled the principality crew again degree earlier than France defender Disasi’s strike.

Shakhtar Donetsk have been 2-1 winners towards Rennes because the Ukrainian membership performed their first European sport since promoting star winger Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea.

Enjoying within the Polish capital Warsaw, Dmytro Kryskiv put Shakhtar forward and Artem Bondarenko netted a penalty earlier than Karl Toko-Ekambi pulled one again for Rennes.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma went down 1-0 away to Austrian champions Pink Bull Salzburg with Argentine midfielder Nicolas Capaldo scoring a late winner.

Sevilla, the competitors’s most profitable membership, beat PSV Eindhoven 3-0 in Spain as Youssef En-Nesyri, Lucas Ocampos and Nemanja Gudelj all netted.

Ajax drew 0-0 with Union Berlin, whereas Sebastian Coates scored deep into stoppage time to earn Sporting a 1-1 draw with Midtjylland of Denmark in Lisbon.

The second legs will probably be performed subsequent Thursday with locations within the final 16 up for grabs alongside the eight groups who topped their teams.

Fiorentina have been the largest winners within the first legs of the Europa Convention League play-offs as they trounced Braga 4-0 in Portugal.

Ciro Motionless gave Lazio a 1-0 victory towards CFR Cluj whereas there have been additionally first-leg wins for Qarabag, Trabzonspor, AEK Larnaca, Partizan Belgrade and Ludogorets.

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