Team manager Jürgen Klopp can still hope for an international title as a farewell gift at Liverpool FC. Benfica Lisbon also reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
After the clear first leg win (5:1), the “Reds” overran the Czech champions Sparta Prague in the second duel at Anfield Road and moved into the quarter-finals with a confident 6:1 (4:1) on Thursday (March 14, 2024). Europa League.
Europa League, round of 16 arrow right
With a lightning start and four goals in the first 14 minutes, Liverpool dispelled any doubts about progress early on. Darwin Nunez (7th minute), Bobby Clark (8th), Mohamed Salah (10th) and Cody Gakpo (14th) scored before the break.
Dominik Szoboszlai (48th) and Gakpo again (55th) increased the score in the second half. Veljko Birmancevic (42nd) scored the consolation goal for the Czechs with no chance.
Benfica defies the cup curse
Portugal’s record champions can continue to hope for the end of the international “title curse” after 62 years. Benfica Lisbon beat Glasgow Rangers 1-0 (0-0), the first leg ended 2-2.
Rafa Silva (66th) scored the win for Benfica. The “Bela Guttmann curse” has been on the Portuguese since they won the national championship cup in 1962.
After his departure in the dispute, the legendary coach predicted that the club would not win a title in Europe for 100 years. Since then, Benfica has lost eight finals, most recently in the Europa League in 2014.
Milan easily against Sparta Prague
With German defender Malick Thiaw on the bench, nine-time European Cup winners AC Milan easily reached the quarter-finals after a 3-1 (3-0) win at Sparta Prague; Milan had already won the first leg 4-1.
Former Dortmund player Christian Pulisic (33rd), Ruben Loftus-Creek (36th) and Rafael Leao (45th + 6th) were successful for Milan, who had the advantage early on after Prague’s Tomas Holes (20′) was red , Matej Jurasek (85th) shortened.
The three-time national player Thiaw, who was not considered for the upcoming international matches by national coach Julian Nagelsmann, was recently injured for a long time.
Draw on Friday
Olympique Marseille are also in the round of the last eight despite a 1:3 (0:1) draw at FC Villarreal (first leg 4:0). AS Roma made it into the next round despite the 0-1 (0-1) draw at Brighton & Hove Albion (first leg 4-0).
After the 1-1 draw in the first leg, Atalanta Bergamo won the second duel with Sporting Lisbon 2-1 (0-1).
The quarter-finals will take place on April 11th and 18th, with the draw taking place on Friday in Nyon.