Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Atalanta and Roma are this season’s semi-finalists in Europa League. The German club earned a 1:1 draw away to West Ham, and is still going unbeaten since the beginning of the season in all competitions, extending its unbeaten streak to 44 matches. Dutch International Jeremie Frimpong saved Bayer from losing, equalizing with just 1 minute remaining on the clock.
Roma, Atalanta, Leverkusen and Marseille progress 👏👏👏#UEL pic.twitter.com/hnMUd5wObJ
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 18, 2024
In the all-Italian clash between Roma and Milan, Daniele De Rossi’s side took an early control of the game, scoring twice until the 22nd minute with Gianluca Mancini and Paulo Dybala getting on the score sheet. Then Milan were given hope as Zeki Celik was sent off in the 31st minute but the Rossoneri failed to mount a comeback, scoring solitary goal late in the game to lose 2:1 on the night and 3:1 on aggregate.
There was one more Europa League match in Italy on Thursday night, where Liverpool had to erase 3 goal deficit to Atalanta. The Reds began strong and opened the score as early as the 7th minute through Mohamed Salah’s penalty but were unable to dominate as they would have hoped. In the 2nd half Atalanta’s defence soaked up the pressure and controled the tempo, with nothing significant happening until the final whistle.
In the most thrilling game of the night, Marseille became the last piece of the Europa League semi-finals after eliminating Benfica on penalties. The 1st leg finished in 2:1 win for the Portuguese team and Marseille managed to force extra-time and penalties, after Faris Moumbagna headed from close range Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s cross in the 79th minute. Marseille were perfect in the penalty shoot-out, scoring each of the first four shots, while Angel Di Maria and Antonio Silva missed the 1st and 4th penalties for Benfica, to send the French team through to the last-4.