Monaco, West Ham and Bayer in the eighth of the Europa League
Monaco, with Thursday night’s Real Sociedad (2-1) after a serious match, qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League (C3), as did West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen.
Two goals from Kevin Volland and Youssouf Fofana, very prominent but sent off at the end of the match for a stupid foul, allowed ASM to secure 1st place in group B, even before the last day of the group stage , and to be reassured after a series of frustrating results in French Ligue 1. Meanwhile, the Lyonnais were also led (1-0), but Ryan Cherki, by opening his European counter with a brace in less than 10 minutes, put OL back on track before Islam Slimani closed the mark. in style, among courageous but limited Danes. Earlier in the evening, Marseille had lost all hope of qualifying for the 8th by losing in Turkey against Galatasaray (4-2), despite a double from Milik. As Lazio Rome won easily in Russia, at Lokomotiv Moscow (3-0), the 1st place in this group was played between the Italians and the Turks, on the last day. In addition, West Ham, who won in Vienna (2-0), and Bayer Leverkusen, winner of Celtic Glasgow (3-2), have certainly secured their ticket to the round of 16.
In group D, 1st place will be played between Eintracht Frankfurt and Olympiakos. In Group A, the Glasgow Rangers took a small option on the dams, behind Lyon, because they took three points ahead of Sparta Prague by beating the Czechs on Thursday night (2-0). On the other hand, nothing is played at all in Group C, where four teams stand in two points, from Leicester (8 points) to Legia Warsaw (6 points), via Spartak Moscow (7 points) and Naples. (7 points). Comparable situation in Group F, with three teams in two points, the Red Star of Belgrade, the Portuguese of Braga and the surprising Danes of Midtjylland.
Europa League Conference
In the Europa League Conference (C4), to play the round of 16, Tottenham will have to go through a barrage against a third group in the Europa League. Antonio’s Spurs have a lost effect Thursday night against the modest Slovenes of Mura (2-1), while the French Rennes signed a 12th consecutive game without defeat, against the Dutch Vitesse Arnhem (3-3 ), and thus ensured the head of the group whatever happens in the last match.
On the other side of the planet, the final of the Copa Libertadores will now pit defending champion Palmeiras against Flamengo, champion in 2019, a 100% Brazilian shock that will crown the country’s hegemony in South American football, in the legendary Centenario stadium in Montevideo (Uruguay). Qualified hands down for the 2022 World Cup with an almost flawless qualifying stage, Brazil also crushes the competition with its richer and often better organized clubs. The final of the last edition already opposed two clubs of the five-time world champion, Palmeiras and Santos. The winner of the final tonight joins São Paulo FC, Santos and Gremio in the pantheon of Brazilian teams having won three Copas Libertadores. This year, the domination is even more impressive, with two continental finals between Brazilian clubs. Last Saturday, Athletico Paranaense won the Copa Sudamericana, the South American equivalent of the Europa League, by beating Bragantino (1-0).
CAF for a biennial World Cup
In addition, the African Football Confederation (CAF) learned yesterday of its support for the “decision of the FIFA congress to conduct a feasibility study” for a biennial World Cup, instead of the usual quadrennial rhythm. CAF is thus the first confederation to publicly authorize the controversial project of holding a World Cup every two years, at the same pace as its African Cup of Nations (CAN). The body in charge of African football, meeting in an Extraordinary General Assembly at its headquarters in Cairo (Egypt), has also voted in favor of a Super League of African clubs for which it has so far given neither composition nor calendar.
Source: AFP
Monaco, with Thursday night’s Real Sociedad (2-1) after a serious match, qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League (C3), as did West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen: Two goals from Kevin Volland and Youssouf Fofana, very prominent but sent off late in the match for a stupid foul, allowed ASM to secure 1st place in Group B, even before …