Manchester United defeated Spanish membership Granada 2-0 within the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie in Spain on Thursday, whereas Arsenal conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw at house to Czech champions Slavia Prague. Marcus Rashford raced on to an extended ball sprayed upfield by Victor Lindelof to fireside United in entrance at Los Carmenes on 31 minutes towards a crew having fun with a superb debut European marketing campaign. Bruno Fernandes transformed a late penalty after he was caught off the ball by Yan Eteki, with the Portuguese midfielder’s spot-kick squirming agonisingly by way of the palms of Rui Silva.
“They (Rashford and Fernandes) have been distinctive, so vital for us,” United supervisor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer informed BT Sport.
“It was an excellent run by Rashford, takes the ball fantastically. Bruno is so assured on penalties despite the fact that the keeper virtually saved it.”
Nonetheless Solskjaer will likely be with out the suspended trio of captain Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay for the second leg at Outdated Trafford subsequent week.
“It was not an ideal evening,” he added. “We obtained three yellow playing cards and three suspensions. 2-0 is excellent consequence. We all know how tough it’s to come back to Spain.”
Yangel Herrera volleyed towards the publish for Granada as Spain worldwide David de Gea stored a clear sheet on his first look for Manchester United for the reason that finish of February.
Arsenal stumble at house
Arsenal’s poor league kind below Mikel Arteta has left the Gunners with the Europa League as their solely hope of silverware this 12 months, however the 2019 runners-up had been denied victory on the Emirates following a 94th-minute header by Tomas Holes.
Nicolas Pepe had come off the bench to present Arsenal the lead 4 minutes from time, just for Holes to nod in at a nook and lengthen Slavia’s unbeaten run to 22 video games, having already knocked out Leicester Metropolis and Rangers.
“The ultimate consequence leaves a tough style,” Arteta mentioned.
“The sport was below management. We obtained the aim we needed however we missed some massive possibilities as effectively.
“We performed two or three balls we should not do and we put ourselves on the again foot and conceded the nook. They put our bodies in there and it may occur. It modifications the sensation after the sport.”
Roma, the one Italian membership remaining in Europe this time period, got here from behind to take down four-time European champions Ajax 2-1 in Amsterdam.
Davy Klaassen gave Ajax the lead shortly earlier than half-time, however Dusan Tadic’s missed penalty proved the turning level as Roma keeper Pau Lopez turned away the Serbian’s effort moments earlier than the guests drew degree.
Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free-kick on 57 minutes slipped by way of the grasp of Ajax keeper Kjell Scherpen and Roger Ibanez gained the sport for Roma late on, smashing house an excellent volley.
Promoted
Unai Emery’s Villarreal obtained the higher of Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, as Gerard Moreno’s penalty simply earlier than the interval secured a 1-0 victory.
Emery gained the Europa League in three consecutive years with Sevilla and took Arsenal to the 2019 remaining.
