Against favorites Liverpool, despite today’s 0-1 home loss, Bergamo maintained their lead thanks to a 3-0 triumph at the opponent’s field. Atalanta will face Marseille in the semi-finals, which eliminated Benfica Lisbon after a penalty shootout.
Leverkusen went into the first match after winning the German league title on Sunday, but it did not start well at the Olympic Stadium in London. In the 13th minute, Antonio got to the center of the box before the goalkeeper Kovář and extended the ball into the net with his head.
Foto: Paul Childs, Reuters
The joy of West Ham footballers with a goal in the return match with Leverkusen.
The Hammers were the better team and coach Alonso responded with a double half-time substitution that ended the game for Schick. In the second half, the game evened out and the London team did not score another goal, meaning extra time. On the contrary, in the 89th minute, Frimpong equalized with a spot-kick and Leverkusen did not lose even the 44th competitive game of the season, breaking Juventus’ record from 2011/12 within the five elite European leagues.
Photo: Dylan Martinez, Reuters
West Ham footballers celebrate a goal against Leverkusen.
West Ham will not imitate last year’s semifinal participation in the Europa League or last year’s triumph in the Conference League, on the contrary, Bayer is in the EL semifinals for the second time in a row. Among the best four teams in the competition are Bayern Munich and Dortmund in the Champions League, so German football has three teams in the semi-finals in the cup season for the first time since 1994/95, when the same clubs did it.
Liverpool took the lead in Bergamo in the seventh minute thanks to Salah’s penalty, but did not add any more goals. Aston Villa remains the last English cup representative in the Conference League. Atalanta is in the semi-finals of the European Cup after 36 years and only the second time in history.
AS Řím was already leading 2:0 in the 22nd minute in the battle between the two teams that faced Slavia Prague during the competition. First, Mancini hit Pellegrini’s shot on the post and followed up his strike from the opening duel. He then added to Dybala’s accurate strike. In the 31st minute, Celik received a red card for a slip on Leao, but the “Wolves” kept their lead despite being weakened. Only in the end was he able to reduce Gabbia.
The Romans will play the semi-finals of the European Cup for the fourth time in a row. Last year they reached the final in the Europa League, two years ago they dominated the Conference League.
At home, Marseille overturned a 1-2 deficit from the opening match in the 79th minute after Moumbagno’s header. The 1:0 score lasted through extra time until the penalty shootout. For Benfica, Di María and Antonio Silva failed in the first series and in the fourth, Marseille only needed three successful attempts to win.
The semi-final matches are scheduled for May 2 and 9.
Rematch of the quarter-finals of the European Football League: AS Rome – AC Milan 2:1 (2:0) Goals: 12. Mancini, 22. Dybala – 85. Gabbia. ČK: 31. Celik (AS Rome). First match 1:0, AS Rome advanced.Bergamo – Liverpool 0:1 (0:1) Goal: 7. Salah from pen. First match 3:0, Bergamo advanced. West Ham – Leverkusen 1:1 (1:0) Goals: 13. Antonio – 89. Frimpong. First match 0:2, advanced Leverkusen.Marseille – Benfica Lisbon 1:0 after extra time. (0:0, 1:0), on pen. 3:2 Goal: 79. Moumbagna. The penalty was converted by: Correa, Kondogbia, Balerdi – Kökcü, Otamendi. Not converted: Di María, A. Silva (both Benfica). First match 1:2, Marseille advanced.
