At the beginning of the round of 16 of the Europa League, in the duels between the teams that were second in their groups and those that came from the Champions League due to having finished third in their zones, Galatasaray this Thursday he was left with the first leg against Sparta Prague thanks to a great goal from Mauro Icardi in the first minute of injury time. Number 9 scored the agonizing 3-2 against those from the Czech Republic, with whom they will define the series as visitors.
Galatasaray, which has a second chance in the European cups this season after being 3rd in the group that Bayern Munich won and Manchester United was eliminated, was up on the scoreboard 1-0 in the first half and 2-1 in the second, before it will be Danish defender Victor Nelsson was sent off. This forced the Turkish team to rearrange itself on the field, with some changes and a forward converted into a full-back. And immediately, the Czechs reached 2-2.
Near the end, the visitors could have even taken the lead, but Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved the team from defeat. And in a quick advance on the right, already playing extra time, Icardi’s goal was created that sealed the victory and meant his 20th shout in 35 games this season in the club.
Baris Yilmaz, who had been delayed on the field by having one less player for 18 minutes (until Matej Rynes saw the red on the Czechs and both were left with 10), connected with the Brazilian Tete in the middle of the field, accelerated in front of his marker and served a precise pass to the crescent of the area, where he saw the Argentine unmarked. Icardi received, feinted against two rivals and took a right cross between the legs of one of them which could not be controlled by the stretch of Danish goalkeeper Peter Jensen. It was also a relief for someone who, at 1-1, had hit the post in a one-on-one match in which he hit it over the goalkeeper.
Icardi’s great goal for Galatasaray’s victory
When it seemed that the home field was not enough for Galatasaray, the scorer appeared to add more fire to the fervor of the fans who admire him. Mauro had arrived on loan in September 2022 and had to return to Paris Saint-Germain last year. For the 22 goals in 24 games that the forward scored in the previous season to win the Turkish Super League, after four years without Olympic returns from one of the most passionate clubs in a visceral league, they came together Galatasaray’s willingness to buy his pass and PSG’s willingness to sell him, even if it was for a much lower figure (10 million euros) than what they had paid (50 million) in 2020 to acquire him from Inter. Icardi thanks them with goals.
Upon his arrival at Galatasaray, almost evicted by the French, some imagined him with a secondary role. It didn’t take long for them to know that he would be one of the main actors. Almost since he had a hollywood reception at the airport. A year and a half later they confirm it. Far from the extra football controversies who had gained ground due to a marital crisis with his outgoing wife and agent Wanda Nara, today he speaks on the court, with the ball at his feet, in another successful year.
The summary of Galatasaray – Sparta Prague
In the first round on Thursday there were three other matches, including Rome’s 1-1 visit to Feyenoord, from the Netherlands. Leandro Paredes y Paulo Dybala, with a good first half and replaced three minutes from the end, they were starters for the Italian team, which will define the series at home next week. The Dutch had taken the lead at the end of the first stage and the Belgian Romelu Lukaku They achieved equality 22 minutes into the second half.
The summary of Feyenoord – Rome
Besides, Shakhtar drew 2-2 with Marseille -Leonardo Balerdi started and Joaquín Correa entered at the end- in a match that had two goals in injury time. They were 1-1, the French took the lead on the hour mark and in the third minute of stoppage time the Ukrainian team equalized again.
The summary of Shakhtar – Marseille
And in Switzerland, Sporting Lisboa took a good advantage as a visitor against Young Boys, whom he beat 3-1, so as to arrive somewhat more relaxed for the rematch in seven days in Portugal.
The summary of Young Boys – Sporting Lisbon
In the second turn, Ángel Di María scored a double in the duel between Benfica and Toulouse. The world champion with the Argentine national team scored both penalties for the Portuguese in the 2-1 success against the French, also with Nicolas Otamendi as a starter in the Portuguese.
Angelito’s first goal was after a warning for a handball that came from the VAR to the referee. After confirming it on the monitor, Fideo finished at the center of the goal as soon as the goalkeeper dropped and He scored 1-0, one day after turning 36.
Di María’s first goal for Benfica
And the other, in the seventh minute of stoppage time and after several discussions, gave him the victory in the last play of the match, after the visitors had reached the tie. Di María once again violated the Toulouse goal with a touch to the left of Guillaume Restes and sealed the victory for his team.
Di María’s second goal for Benfica
Another joy for the player and for Benfica, which is simultaneously one of the two leaders of the Portuguese League. The definition of this series will be in Toulouse, in a week, when the other three keys that began this Thursday, without Argentines, will also be defined: Milan (3) – Rennes (0), Braga (2) – Qarabag (4) and Lens (0) – Freiburg (0).
The summary of Benfica – Toulouse
By Conference League, also at the start of the round of 16, Kevin Mac Allister was a starter and He was replaced with four minutes remaining due to discomfort that did not allow him to continue the game at 2-2 between his team Union Saint-Gilloise, of Belgium, and Frankfurt, from Germany.
The summary of Union Saint-Gilloise – Frankfurt
There were more Argentines who played today for that cup, the third most important in Europe for clubs. Francisco Ortega y Santiago Hezze They completed the entire game in the 1-0 success of their team, Olympiacos, of Greece, over Ferencvaros, of Hungary. The same thing happened with German Pezzella, but in his case in Betis’ 1-0 home defeat against Dinamo Zagreb, from Croatia.
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