It came close to the bubbling Napoli not seeing the spring of European competitions. But, faithful to its tradition of fighter, the Italian team went to win its qualification for the play-offs for the knockout stages of the Europa League by defeating the English Leicester at the end of the suspense (3-2), Thursday, December 9.
For their part, Lyon and Monaco, who had already qualified, had a quieter evening respectively against Glasgow Rangers (1-1) and Sturm Graz (1-1) while OM snatched their place in the play-offs of the Europa League Conference thanks to a success against Lokomotiv Moscow (1-0).
Monaco preserves its invincibility
Even assured of first place in Group B, ASM has done the job by maintaining its invincibility against Sturm Graz. The Austrians, however doomed to the last place in this group, played the game by quickly opening the scoring by Jakob Jantscher from the penalty spot (7th). Mistreated, the Monegasque formation, with only Aurélien Tchouaméni and Kevin Volland as usual holders and who also recorded the return of Wissam Ben Yedder, took a long time to wake up but she managed to equalize thanks to Volland, precisely.
As an opportunist, the German took back at close range a trailing balloon (30th). Nothing was marked afterwards while, at the same time, Real Sociedad defeated PSV Eindhoven (3-0) thanks in particular to a double from Mikel Oyarzabal, qualifying the Basques to the detriment of the Dutch.
Lyon ensures but does not reassure itself
Like Monaco, OL were guaranteed to finish in first place in their group. Faced with those who were also sure to be their dolphin at the end of this last day of group stage, the Glasgow Rangers, Lyon did not really succeed in erasing its last rather dull performances. Scott Wright thus allowed the Scots to shoot the first just before the break (41st) but, luckily for the Rhone residents, the unfortunate Bassey Ughelumba scored against his camp after returning from the locker room (48th).
Forced to draw, the Lyon team thus missed the opportunity to become the first French team to win all their matches in the group stage of the Europa League. In the group’s other match, without any real stake, Sparta Prague beat Bröndby (2-0) and will see the Europa League.
OM takes the right train against Lokomotiv
It was not until the last day to see Marseille clinch its first success in this competition. But better late than never since this narrow victory of the Olympians against Lokomotiv Moscow allows them to be transferred to the play-offs to access the Europa League Conference.
OM, who were sure not to be able to go further in this C3 before kick-off, had the merit of not snubbing the issue and won thanks to a realization of Milik in the 35th. The Phocéens also resisted the Russian assaults during the last minutes they had to play without Rongier, excluded in the 80th.
At the same time, Lazio Rome disappointed by failing to worry Galatasaray (0-0) in the group final. The Turks have thus retained their place of leader while the Romans will also have to go through the play-offs of the eighth, just like other renowned clubs such as Celtic, winner of Betis Sevilla (3-2) in group G and Fenerbahçe, who won the draw on the field of Frankfurt, already qualified, in Pool D.
END OF THE MATCH | #OMLOK 1️⃣-0️⃣
The victory for our Olympians who will have largely dominated the match and qualify for the @europacnfleague ✅
✈️ Next appointment Sunday for #RCSAOM pic.twitter.com/k7M64Nb1dl
– Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) December 9, 2021
Elmas savior of Naples
It was THE big game of the evening. The one who thrilled thousands of Neapolitans at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Opposed to Leicester, the Vesuvian formation was very hot before exploding with joy. In a meeting with twists and turns, Napoli first opened the scoring by Adam Ounas in the 4th minute, before Eljif Elmas doubled the advantage (24th). But it was without counting on the British fighting spirit.
In quick succession, Brendan Rodgers’ men responded by Evans (27th) and Dewsbury-Hall (33rd), raising the specter of elimination for Napoli. But, in a final rush, Eljif Elmas gave back the advantage to his people, definitive this time (53rd). The Macedonian midfielder is the hero of the evening.
⏱ 90 + 3 | Full time! ⏹#NapoliLeicester 3-2#UEL
#ForzaNapoliSemper pic.twitter.com/Fplsq7zvQ8
– Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) December 9, 2021
Atalanta donated to the Europa League
The postponement of the match scheduled the day before but postponed to Thursday due to heavy snowfall in Bergamo was not enough to get Atalanta back on track. Even on a practicable ground, the transalpine formation left the track vis-a-vis Villarreal (2-3). A big mistake by Merih Demiral in the central circle allowed Arnaut Danjuma to open the scoring in the 2nd minute then it was the Frenchman Etienne Capoue who won his duel with the Atalanta goalkeeper to make a break that s ‘is revealed to be insurmountable.
Especially since Danjuma went there for his double afterwards, bringing the score to 3-0. The reaction of pride of the Italians, who came back to a cable, was far too late to hope to reverse a situation too compromised. The Spanish club, qualified since Wednesday and Manchester United’s draw against Young Boys Bern (1-1), ensures their second place while the Bergamesques are transferred to the Europa League where they could face a French club.