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treva · 04-11-2020, 07:42 AM

Europa League QF 2nd Leg

United thrash Basel to set up mouthwatering semi-final with Sevilla

Nemanja Matic scored twice on another brilliant European night at Old Trafford as Manchester United booked their place in the semi-finals of the Europa League with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Basel.

Heading into the second leg, United had a crucial away goal to give them the upper hand in the tie but they had to wait until the 35th minute to open the scoring. Bruno Fernandes, who has been somewhat of a saviour since joining United, scored the best goal of his short career in Manchester - a superb bit of skill on the corner of the box giving him a yard of space before he bent his shot perfectly into the top corner.

Basel responded almost immediately thanks to Samuele Campo who received a fantastic ball from Fabian Frei before taking a touch and sliding his left footed shot past the outstretched leg of David De Gea.

Eight minutes into the second half United had the lead again, Anthony Martial playing a no-look pass to Matic after drawing the defence in, leaving the Serbian to rifle home his shot from a one-on-one position with the goalkeeper.

The game was wrapped up inside the last 15 minutes thanks to Martial and Matic once again, the former controlling a chipped pass from Mason Greenwood with his knee before lashing a volley on the turn into the net. Matic scored his second in the final minute, meeting Daniel James' cross with a powerful header.

They face Sevilla after the five-time Europa League champions secured a 2-1 victory away to Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk. Ever Banega scored from the spot having missed a penalty in the first leg, before Nolito doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time.

Marlos gave Shakhtar their first goal of the tie with a brilliant free kick on 72 minutes but they couldn't claw anything back in the final 20 minutes.

Undoubtedly the game of the night was in Germany between Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan. Having lost 2-0 at home Inter had it all to do and the task got even taller when Lucas Alario found the net for the hosts after 20 minutes.

A moment of magic from Lautaro Martinez provided the spark Inter needed to get back into the tie after Romelu Lukaku's blocked shot fell to the Argentine international 25 yards from goal and his inventive chip beat both the goalkeeper and defender who were desperately trying to rush back towards the goal line.

Lukaku handed Inter the lead after 58 minutes but dreams of a dramatic comeback were dented just two minutes later by Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby who made no mistake in a one-on-one with Samir Handanovic.

The game wasn't done and dusted, however, as Martinez's second goal of the night from a narrow angle with ten minutes to go gave the visitors a glimmer of hope. It wasn't to be for the Italian giants as Leverkusen held on to win 4-3 on aggregate and book their place in the Europa League semi-finals for the first time since 1995.

Istanbul Basaksehir continued their sensational run in the tournament by beating Olympiakos 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw on the night.

The tie looked to be in the balance after an opening goal from Olympiakos' Andreas Bouchalakis on 34 minutes but momentum shifted moments before the half-time whistle after Olympiakos failed to clear a corner. Corner taker Edin Visca found himself back on the ball and in turn dragged it back into the path of Eljero Elia who smashed it first time across the face of goal and into the back of the net.

They are now just two games away from a historic Europa League final and will have Bayer Leverkusen standing in their way.

Fernandes' superb solo goal was the highlight of Manchester United's 4-1 victory over Basel

Results

Istanbul Basaksehir 1-1 Olympiakos

Elia (45+1) - Bouchalakis (34)
Istanbul Basaksehir win 2-1 on aggregate

Shakhtar 1-2 Sevilla

Marlos (72) - Banega (pen 13), Nolito (44)
Sevilla win 3-1 on aggregate

Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Inter Milan

Alario (20), Diaby (66) - Martinez (33, 80), Lukaku (58)
Bayer Leverkusen win 4-3 on aggregate

Man United 4-1 Basel

Fernandes (35), Matic (53, 89), Martial (75) - Campo (37)
Man United win 5-2 on aggregate

Semi-Final Draw

Istanbul Basaksehir vs Bayer Leverkusen

Man United vs Sevilla

04-11-2020, 07:42 AM	#20
treva Rookie OVR: 0 Join Date: Jan 2011	Re: Finishing the 19/20 Season \| FM20/FIFA20 Europa League QF 2nd Leg United thrash Basel to set up mouthwatering semi-final with Sevilla Nemanja Matic scored twice on another brilliant European night at Old Trafford as Manchester United booked their place in the semi-finals of the Europa League with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Basel. Heading into the second leg, United had a crucial away goal to give them the upper hand in the tie but they had to wait until the 35th minute to open the scoring. Bruno Fernandes, who has been somewhat of a saviour since joining United, scored the best goal of his short career in Manchester - a superb bit of skill on the corner of the box giving him a yard of space before he bent his shot perfectly into the top corner. Basel responded almost immediately thanks to Samuele Campo who received a fantastic ball from Fabian Frei before taking a touch and sliding his left footed shot past the outstretched leg of David De Gea. Eight minutes into the second half United had the lead again, Anthony Martial playing a no-look pass to Matic after drawing the defence in, leaving the Serbian to rifle home his shot from a one-on-one position with the goalkeeper. The game was wrapped up inside the last 15 minutes thanks to Martial and Matic once again, the former controlling a chipped pass from Mason Greenwood with his knee before lashing a volley on the turn into the net. Matic scored his second in the final minute, meeting Daniel James' cross with a powerful header. They face Sevilla after the five-time Europa League champions secured a 2-1 victory away to Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk. Ever Banega scored from the spot having missed a penalty in the first leg, before Nolito doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Marlos gave Shakhtar their first goal of the tie with a brilliant free kick on 72 minutes but they couldn't claw anything back in the final 20 minutes. Undoubtedly the game of the night was in Germany between Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan. Having lost 2-0 at home Inter had it all to do and the task got even taller when Lucas Alario found the net for the hosts after 20 minutes. A moment of magic from Lautaro Martinez provided the spark Inter needed to get back into the tie after Romelu Lukaku's blocked shot fell to the Argentine international 25 yards from goal and his inventive chip beat both the goalkeeper and defender who were desperately trying to rush back towards the goal line. Lukaku handed Inter the lead after 58 minutes but dreams of a dramatic comeback were dented just two minutes later by Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby who made no mistake in a one-on-one with Samir Handanovic. The game wasn't done and dusted, however, as Martinez's second goal of the night from a narrow angle with ten minutes to go gave the visitors a glimmer of hope. It wasn't to be for the Italian giants as Leverkusen held on to win 4-3 on aggregate and book their place in the Europa League semi-finals for the first time since 1995. Istanbul Basaksehir continued their sensational run in the tournament by beating Olympiakos 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw on the night. The tie looked to be in the balance after an opening goal from Olympiakos' Andreas Bouchalakis on 34 minutes but momentum shifted moments before the half-time whistle after Olympiakos failed to clear a corner. Corner taker Edin Visca found himself back on the ball and in turn dragged it back into the path of Eljero Elia who smashed it first time across the face of goal and into the back of the net. They are now just two games away from a historic Europa League final and will have Bayer Leverkusen standing in their way. Fernandes' superb solo goal was the highlight of Manchester United's 4-1 victory over Basel Results Istanbul Basaksehir 1-1 Olympiakos Elia (45+1) - Bouchalakis (34) Istanbul Basaksehir win 2-1 on aggregate Shakhtar 1-2 Sevilla Marlos (72) - Banega (pen 13), Nolito (44) Sevilla win 3-1 on aggregate Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Inter Milan Alario (20), Diaby (66) - Martinez (33, 80), Lukaku (58) Bayer Leverkusen win 4-3 on aggregate Man United 4-1 Basel Fernandes (35), Matic (53, 89), Martial (75) - Campo (37) Man United win 5-2 on aggregate Semi-Final Draw Istanbul Basaksehir vs Bayer Leverkusen Man United vs Sevilla