Roger Schmidt with a draw
EL round of 16 has a surprise debutant
February 22, 2024, 11:10 p.m
For the first time, a club from Azerbaijan is in the round of 16 of a European Cup: Qarabag Agdam can celebrate. It’s exciting for AS Roma, for whom moving into the next round is just a milestone, just like for coach Roger Schmidt and Benfica Lisbon.
Coach Roger Schmidt reached the round of 16 of the Europa League with Benfica Lisbon. A 0-0 draw was enough for the Portuguese champions in the home game against FC Toulouse. Benfica won the duel in France 2-1 (0-0) with a goal in stoppage time.
AC Milan is also through despite the 2:3 (1:1) defeat at Stade Rennes; the top Italian club won the first leg 3:0 (1:0). Three-time international Malick Thiaw came on as a substitute for Milan in the 80th minute.
Meanwhile, AS Roma kept their chance of reaching the third European Cup final in a row; new coach Daniele De Rossi’s team beat Feyenoord Rotterdam 4-2 on penalties. After 120 minutes the score was 1:1 (1:1, 1:1).
Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk missed the chance of another “home game” in Hamburg, the 1:3 (1:1) at Olympique Marseille (first leg: 2:2) meant the end for the Ukrainians. Azerbaijan’s champions Qarabag Agdam pulled off a surprise by becoming the first club in their country to reach the round of 16 of a European Cup. The 2:3 (0:2, 0:0) after extra time against the Portuguese from Sporting Braga was enough after the 4:2 win in the first leg; Agdam only scored the decisive goal for the final score in injury time of extra time.
In the Conference League, Ajax Amsterdam escaped defeat against FK Bodö/Glimt, and the Dutch won 2-1 (1-1, 1-0) after extra time against the Norwegian champions. Ajax were 2-0 down in the first leg, but saved a 2-2 draw with two goals in stoppage time.
Dinamo Zagreb managed a surprise. The Croatian champions eliminated Betis Sevilla 1-1 (0-1) a week after their 1-0 win in Spain.