Arsenal out of the Cup! Well other two English teams Manchester Utd and Wolves. The two Italian teams Roma and Inter are well, moving to the quarterfinals as well as the German teams Leverkusen and Wolfsburg.
ARSENAL – OLYMPIAKOS
Arsenal wast their big chance to find the Champions League next season. A serious blow inflicted by Olympiakos that extinguishes the dreams and ambitions of an Arsenal projected to the final victory and considered until yesterday, among the favorites.
There was a magical atmosphere that has started to develop around the Emirates stadium since Arteta took his team to a higher level of play and results at the end of 2019. Now the Spaniard has to face the biggest challenge of his short managerial career and try to lift his players after this disappointment.
There is still the FA Cup to play for and although it is a very remote possibility, they can still finish in the top four of the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League. Arteta now has to find a way to cheer up the mood on the pitch, and very quickly, because the backlash risks canceling all the good work done so far.
MANCHESTER UTD – CLUB BRUGGE
Manchester United’s performance against Club Brugge was nothing short of amazing. They already had the advantage of a goal away and even a draw at Old Trafford would have been enough.
From the start, United have been far superior to their Belgian opponents, with more chances and more ball possession. The match was also immediately compromised for the opponents, from the expulsion of Simon Deli (Brugge) at minute 23.
The training choices made by the hosts did not foreshadow such a rampant match. With Anthony Martial excluded and Odion Ighalo starting, Manchester Utd finds a new leader in the field in Fernandes, who arrived with the January market and author of an incredibly impressive game.
It is he who opens the scoring at minute 27 on penalty and dominates in the middle of the field. With this performance, the team demonstrates strength and determination even without its owners on the field.
INTER – LUDOGORETS
In a totally deserted stadium – remember that the match was played behind closed doors because of the Coronavirus that hit northern Italy – Conte’s Inter, get the shift passage with yet another victory this season. For the Nerazzurri, returning from a 0-0 win away, even a draw would have been enough.
All apparently easy for the hosts, who however had to deal with a Ludogorets who started well and took the lead at minute 26.
The goal immediately and then the fear for a sensational comeback, woke up Inter who started playing with the usual aggression and malice now in nature since Conte is on that bench. Biraghi first and Lukaku then, overturn the result already in the first half.
In the deafening silence of a San Siro devoid of its fans, the second half slips away blandly and brings yet another victory and shift to the home Inter
GENT – ROMA
Roma, after the 1-0 victory in the first home match, take the field with the aim of immediately finding the qualifying goal and turning off any hope of the Belgians of a sensational turnaround.
The bosses start determined and find the sensational advantage with David at the 25th minute. The Rome accuses the blow but does not get upset and finds the immediate draw at the 29th minute with Kluivert.
The match slips away without goals and Roma pass the round with the awareness that in the next games they will have to field different energies and stimuli in order to face opponents that are certainly less compliant and stronger than Gent
ALL OTHER MATCHES
