Benfica’s Danish striker Casper Tengstedt (right) fights with Marseille’s French defender Samuel Gigot during the Europa League quarter-final first leg between OM and Benfica, in Lisbon, April 11, 2024. ( AFP / CARLOS COSTA)
Marseille failed to get the upper hand over Benfica on Thursday in the quarter-final first leg of the Europa League, losing 2-1 in Lisbon, like Lille, beaten by the same score at Aston Villa in the League Europa Conference.
Benfica was quick to show its ambitions by scoring a goal in the 16th minute by Rafa Silva who deceived Pau Lopez. Di Maria confirmed the initial domination of the Portuguese by worsening the score shortly after the restart (52nd). But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the gap in the 67th minute.
The Phocaeans regained their enthusiasm and carried out several dangerous actions, Aubameyang missing an opportunity to equalize on a poorly aimed set piece in the 84th minute.
In Birmingham, Lille suffered against Aston Villa, currently 5th in the Premier League. The match quickly turned to the advantage of the English who opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Ollie Watkins before worsening the score through John McGinn (56th). But Lille came back in the 84th thanks to Bafodé Dakité, preserving their chances for the return match.
Croatian Atalanta midfielder Mario Pasalic celebrates his team’s third goal, which he has just scored on Liverpool pitch in the quarter-final first leg of the Europa League, on April 11, 2024. (AFP / DARREN STAPLES)
Liverpool, who are playing for the Premier League title, gave up at Anfield against Atalanta Bergamo, currently 6th in Serie A. The Italians took the lead with a double from Gianluca Scamacca (38th, 60th), Mario Pasalic scoring the highlight in the 83rd.
Leverkusen, the undisputed leader of the Bundesliga, waited until the 83rd minute to open the scoring against West Ham on a goal from Jonas Hoffmann, who entered a few minutes earlier, then stunned the English by Victor Okoh Boniface (90+1) who had entered on the lawn at the same time as Hoffman.
Roma defender Gianluca Mancini (right), scorer on the AC Milan field for his team’s 1-0 victory in the quarter-final first leg of the Europa League, April 11, 2024. (AFP / Isabella BONOTTO )
In the Italian derby between AC Milan and Roma, it was the Giallorossi who won with a goal from Gianluca Mancini (17th), the Milanese, unable to come back to the score, having to concede defeat at home.
In other Europa Conference League matches, Olympiacos won against Fenerbahçe 3-2. The Greeks led 3-0 before seeing the Turks score twice in six minutes (68th and 74th), announcing a heated return match in Istanbul next Thursday.
Club Brugge won against the Greeks PAOK (1-0) while the Czechs Viktoria Plzen and the Italians Fiorentina separated with a goalless draw.