The three French clubs involved in the first leg of the Europa League on Thursday each had a different outcome, Monaco getting away with a victory, Nantes with a draw that looked like a success and Rennes with an away defeat.
Diverse fortunes for the French clubs involved in the first legs of the play-off of the final phase of the Europa League, Thursday February 16. AS Monaco won in the last moments of their meeting on the lawn of Bayer Leverkusen (3-2), FC Nantes achieved a small feat by obtaining a draw against Juventus (1-1). Stade Rennais lost to Shakhtar Donetsk in a meeting relocated to Warsaw due to the war in Ukraine. The long-awaited match between Barça and Manchester United took a while to get started but ended up being prolific (2-2).
Blas continues to lead the way in Nantes
In this FC Nantes Europa League season, you don’t have to look far to find the one who will make the difference against the opposing goal. Again scorer Thursday to snatch the draw on the lawn of Juventus (1-1), Ludovic Blas is now involved in six of the seven goals scored by the Canaries in the competition (3 goals, 3 assists). At the Allianz Stadium, he concluded a counter-attack in the second period (60th) to allow his team to return to equality after the opening of the rapid score of Dusan Vlahovic (13th).
If Blas is the beacon of the offensive game of Nantes, Alban Lafont is that of the defense. The Canaries keeper made six saves to keep Nantes in their game as the club trailed. With this draw, Nantes have enough to consider qualifying for the round of 16. It will be necessary, for that, to beat Juventus in the return match, or to get out of it on penalties in the event of another draw. The meeting should take place in a stadium of Beaujoire in fusion, for this first match in Nantes of the final phase of the European Cup for more than 20 years.
Disasi turns into a goalscorer
We will have seen everything between AS Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen. A huge blunder from Lukas Hradecky at the very start of the match to give Monaco the advantage (9th). Two superb solo goals from Moussa Diaby (48th) and Florian Wirtz (59th) to allow the German club to pass in front. Another no less beautiful goal scored by Krépin Diatta to get back on par (74th). And even more surprisingly, an attacking gesture from Axel Disasi at the very end of the game (90th).
The one who participated in the tricolor epic at the World Cup in Qatar fired a powerful strike from outside the area to give victory to ASM on the gong (3-2). Disasi celebrated his goal with mad rage, knowing that this small advantage could make a big difference in the second leg. Monaco wants to restore its image on the European scene, after disappointing campaigns since 2016-2017. This victory allows him to consider the future in a favorable position.
Rennes youth crack against Shakhtar
Bruno Génésio’s choices did not pay off. While his team is going through a difficult phase – five defeats in their last seven games – the Rennes coach has decided to rotate his squad against Shakhtar Donetsk, fielding several young players. A questionable choice given the face of the match and the mistakes of Djed Spence (22) or Lesley Ugochukwu (18), which led to the two Ukrainian goals from Dmytro Kryskiv (11th) and Artem Bondarenko (45th + 1).
If they had not played since November 23 in an official match, the players of Shakhtar managed this European confrontation much better than the inexperienced Rennais. Fortunately for the latter, qualification is still possible. Karl Toko Ekambi reduced the score (59th) and helped keep the Breton club alive before the return match, which will take place in a week at Roazhon Park in Rennes.
Raphinha responds to Rashford at Camp Nou
It was THE game that everyone was waiting for in these Europa League play-offs. After 45 minutes far too calm for a shock of this level, the match came alive during a superb second period, thanks to two men: Marcus Rashford and Raphinha. While Manchester United were down 1-0 after Marcos Alonso’s goal from a corner kick by Raphinha (50′), Rashford revived the Red Devils with an inspired shot from a tight angle (53′).
Unstoppable since the start of 2023, the Englishman then humiliated Raphinha on a hook, before immediately provoking the goal against his side of Frenchman Jules Koundé (59th). The Brazilian from Barça finally responded with a lucky goal, his cross to Robert Lewandowski surprising David de Gea (76th). Involved in the four goals of the match, Rashford and Raphinha will play the second round of this play-off at Old Trafford next Thursday.