AC Milan took control of their Europa League play-off tie against Ligue 1 Rennes with a comfortable 3-0 victory as Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored a double.
While Inter will be hard to catch, AC Milan’s Scudetto dream is still just about alive, but Stefano Pioli’s side has its best chance of silverware in Europe, and they took a confident step forward against the French side on Thursday night. I Rossoneri dominated throughout and came close when Rafael Leao smashed his shot against the crossbar. But it wasn’t long before Lofts Cheek headed in the opener.
It was 2-0 early in the second half when Steve Mandanda saved from Simon Kjaer but Loftus Cheek was quickest to react and he nodded in the rebound. Leao made it 3-0 when Theo Hernandez gave him the chance and Pioli’s side are in the box seat.
The latest Europa League 2024 betting odds rate Milan as third favourites, behind Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen and, on this showing, that’s not a bad bet.
Lukaku at the ready for Roma
Roma’s form has picked up since a change at the helm, winning four matches on the bounce since Daniele de Rossi replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho in charge of I Giallorossi. But they came into their play-off first leg against Feyenoord on the back of a 4-2 loss to league leaders Inter Milan; and they left De Kuip without a win for the second time in De Rossi’s reign; but Roma will be satisfied with a 1-1 draw.
I Giallorossi are a more attacking outfit under their new head coach and they came close to opening the scoring with Lorenzo Pellegrini, Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaka all testing the Feyenoord defence, but the hosts’ keeper Timon Wellenreuther was equal to everything the Romans could throw at them. And the visitors were made to pay for their lack of sharpness in front of goal when Igor Palxao ghosted in to convert a far post header unmarked to give Feyenoord a half time lead.
But Lukaku has been in fine form for Roma and, cometh the hour, cometh the man as he stooped to guide home a header to level the scores midway through the second half. De Rossi was happy and made a defensive switch late in the game, bringing on Zeki Celik to shore things up.
Turkish Delight for Galatasaray All-Stars
In a five goal thriller at the Turk Telekom Arena Galatasaray’s big names all came good as the hosts had a drama filled 3-2 win over Sparta Prague. In a feisty clash both teams finished up with ten men as the Turks’ Victor Nelson and Sparta’s Matez Rynes both received their marching orders. Galatasaray are top of the Turkish Super League, winning their last five league games but they were pushed all the way by a battling Prague outfit.
It was a ding dong fight with Galatasaray edging possession and the shot count by 15 to 11. They have an array of big names in their team but the Turks were twice pegged back before they finally took an advantage into the play-off second leg. Former Bayer Leverkusen star Kerem Derimbay opened the scoring in the first half before Angelo Preciado levelled just after the break. Napoli legend Dries Mertens restored Galatasaray’s lead and Jan Kuchta made it 2-2 with a quarter of the game remaining. The two teams now down to ten men each, they slugged it out for the last ten minutes and it was former Inter Milan hitman Mauro Icardi who pounced to snatch a first leg lead. Here at SBOTOP we’ll be watching Galatasaray’s all stars closely…they could go a long way.
Frustration for Marseilles
In other Europa League 2024 news there was a late goal too in Hamburg, as Shahktar Donetsk grabbed a 93rd minute equaliser to deny Olympique Marseilles a first victory in six games. After a goalless first half OM twice went ahead but now they have a nervous wait before the two teams meet at the Stade Velodrome for the second leg. Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang side footed the opener after good work from Jonathan Clauss. It was the Gabon star’s sixth Europa League goal this season, joining Ramadel Falcao as the Europa League all time top scorer. Clauss’s efforts were undone soon after though, as his misplaced kick fell into the path of Mykola Matviyenko who fired home. Aubameyang thought he had fashioned the winner when he sprinted into the penalty area and squared for Iliman Ndiaye and he passed the ball into the net. But OM can’t see a game out at the moment and Brazilian striker Eguinaldo looped an injury time header home to give the Ukranians, who hadn’t played a competitive match for two months, a well earned draw.
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