6 Things We Learned from Europa League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg
There were four memorable, intriguing and—in one case—truly dramatic second-leg clashes in the last eight of UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening.
And these are the six things that we learned from those quarter-final ties in Europe’s second-tier competition as four sides now move one step closer to a place in the final at the Juventus Stadium next month…
Old Lady’s Double Dreams Still Alive
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Juventus’ hopes of ending the season on a real high by winning the UEFA Europa League in front of their own fans at the Juventus Stadium are still alive. A 2-1 win over Lyon in the second leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night means the Bianconeri go through to the semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate.
However, Juve were made to sweat by the Ligue 1 outfit in Turin, despite taking an early lead through Andrea Pirlo’s masterful free kick before Jimmy Briand drew the visitors level on the night with still less than 20 minutes on the clock.
But in the end, the Serie A champions proved just too strong for their opponents as Antonio Conte and Co. now look to end their campaign with both a record-breaking fourth triumph in Europe’s second-tier competition and a third straight league title.
"Juventus remain on course to return home for May's #UELfinal http://t.co/XrOwuiaEUz
— UEFA.com (@UEFAcom) April 10, 2014"
Rodrigo’s Star Continues to Shine Bright
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No wonder many of the continent’s biggest clubs, particularly in the Premier League, have been sniffing around Benfica striker Rodrigo of late. The former Spain Under-23 international put in an impressive display on Thursday evening that helped his side into the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League for the second year running.
Rodrigo, 23, scored either side of half-time in the Portuguese league leaders’ comfortable 2-0 second-leg victory over AZ Alkmaar after also being on target in the previous round against Tottenham Hotspur. Benfica won 3-0 on aggregate.
And with 14 goals to his name in all competitions this campaign, including 10 in the league, do not be at all surprised if we see the Brazil-born forward in the Premier League next season. Liverpool, in particular, is reportedly interested in the former Bolton Wanderers player, according to the Daily Mail.
"Rodrigo: Has scored 3 goals from just 4 shots on target in the Europa League this season #UEL
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 10, 2014"
Porto Face Prospect of Rare Trophyless Season
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Thursday night capped off what has been, by FC Porto’s very high standards, a truly miserable season for the serial Portuguese winners.
Porto began the campaign aiming to win a fourth league title in a row under new head coach Paulo Fonseca, who had replaced the hugely successful Vítor Pereira last summer.
However, with the Portuguese giants struggling down in an unfamiliar third position in the top flight, Fonseca resigned last month to be replaced by reserve-team coach Luis Castro until the end of the season.
The new man at the helm even made an encouraging start to his reign as interim boss after overseeing a 1-0 win over Sevilla in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final at the Estadio Dragao last week.
But everything came crashing back down to earth with a bump in the return clash on Thursday as the home team annihilated Porto with a three-goal opening blitz that now leaves their campaign in tatters. Remaining is a Portuguese Cup semi-final second-leg tie with arch-rivals Benfica in the capital next week; Porto is up 1-0.
"That's two big European defeats for Porto in Andalusia in just over a year.
— Christian Machowski (@Christian_ESEM) April 10, 2014"
Sevilla Star Would Not Look out of Place in the Spanish Capital
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Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic once again demonstrated just what an accomplished player he has recently become after turning in yet another fine performance in the engine room to inspire the Liga outfit to a stunning demolition of FC Porto in Andalucia on Thursday.
The southern Spanish side went into the second leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan trailing 1-0 from last week’s clash in Oporto, but incredibly within half an hour the tie was over as a contest, with the home team leading 3-0.
However, it was that man Rakitic who got proceedings underway by coolly slotting home a fifth-minute penalty. It was the Croatia international’s 17th goal of a memorable campaign that, by all accounts, is set to end with his transfer to Liga giants Real Madrid, according to talkSPORT.
Meanwhile, come the full-time whistle, Sevilla had run out 4-1 winners on the night to move one step closer to what would be a third UEFA Europa League crown.
"Ivan Rakitic: MotM vs Porto, Rating 8.8, Shots 1, Goals 1, Key passes 1, Dribbles 2 @SevillaFC pic.twitter.com/ZSaIe9Zirk
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 10, 2014"
History No Barrier to Record-Breaking Che
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Liga outfit Valencia proved on Thursday that records are there to be broken by becoming the first side ever in the UEFA Europa League era to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit after knocking FC Basel out of the competition at the quarter-final stage.
The Swiss champions had won the first encounter convincingly 3-0 at St Jakob-Park last time out; however, they had few answers this time around as Juan Antonio Pizzi's men simply blew them away right from the off, before taking the tie into 30 minutes of extra time.
When Basel were then reduced to nine men, the outcome was never in doubt as the home side made it into Friday’s draw for the semi-finals of a competition they won for the first and only time 10 years ago.
"Valencia are the first side to overturn a three-goal deficit in the #UEL era. (via @EuropaLeague).
— Espcore (@espcore) April 10, 2014"
There Are Still Yet More Spanish Attacking Starlets to Savour
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Young Valencia frontman Paco Alcacer is really starting to make a name for himself after the Spaniard netted a stunning hat-trick to help his side pull off the great escape against FC Basel at Mestalla.
The 20-year-old made the headlines back in February after scoring his side’s winner against Liga champions Barcelona at Camp Nou, although even that memorable moment pales into insignificance compared to his feats on Thursday evening.
"#uel @paco_alcacer was record goalscorer in 2010 #u17euro & won 2011+2012 #u19euros. No surprise he's now tearing it up for @valenciacf
— Paul Saffer (@UEFAcomPaulS) April 10, 2014"
Alcacer’s double helped take the match into extra time before the Spain Under-21 international’s third goal with just six minutes remaining killed off the visitors’ challenge and saw Los Che into an unlikely UEFA Europa League semi-final later this month.
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