Liverpool continued their march in the Europa League with a stunning performance against Sparta Prague while Bayer Leverkusen’s fairytale season added a new chapter with a comeback win over Qarabag in the UEFA Europa League Round Of 16 ties.
Liverpool unleashed a football masterclass, decimating Sparta Prague with a 6-1 victory, propelling them into the Europa League quarter-finals with an impressive 11-2 aggregate score.
The Reds’ onslaught began early, with Darwin Nunez, Bobby Clark, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo finding the net within the first 14 minutes, setting the tone for what was to become a memorable night at Anfield. Despite Veljko Birmancevic’s effort to claw one back for Sparta Prague, Liverpool’s dominance was undeniable, further solidified by Dominik Szoboszlai and a second from Gakpo.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen’s encounter with Qarabag turned into a dramatic spectacle, culminating in a last-gasp 3-2 victory for the German side.
Patrik Schick emerged as the hero, as his stoppage-time double flipping the script and secured Leverkusen a 5-4 win on aggregate, extending their unbeaten streak to an astonishing 37 matches.
What are the other results from Europa League Round Of 16?
Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion’s aspirations to overturn a significant deficit against AS Roma were dashed despite a valiant effort and a stunning goal from Danny Welbeck, ending their journey with a 4-1 loss on aggregate.
In another gripping match, Atalanta battled to a 2-1 victory over Sporting CP, thanks to pivotal goals from Ademola Lookman and Gianluca Scamacca, ensuring the Italian side’s progression with a narrow 3-2 aggregate advantage.
AC Milan effortlessly advanced to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, overcoming Slavia Prague with a decisive 3-1 win in their latest encounter. This victory was underscored by a significant moment when Slavia’s Tomas Holes received a red card, contributing to Milan’s triumphant 7-3 aggregate score.
In another remarkable match, West Ham United achieved a historic milestone by thrashing Freiburg with an astonishing 5-0 scoreline. This resounding victory marked West Ham’s most significant win in European competition history, propelling them into the quarter-finals with a 5-1 aggregate advantage.
Olympique De Marseille faced off against Villarreal, the champions of the 2020-21 season, in a gripping contest. Despite Villarreal’s strong performance, which saw them win 3-1 in their final match, it wasn’t enough to overturn Marseille’s lead, with the French team securing their place in the next round with a 5-4 aggregate victory.
Rangers, hailing from Scotland, encountered a rare setback at home against Portuguese giants Benfica. The match ended in a 1-0 defeat for Rangers, marking their first loss at home to Portuguese opposition in a UEFA competition, with Benfica moving forward 3-2 on aggregate.
