Europa League: Manchester United, Arsenal pick up narrows wins as five clubs confirm place in next round
Fenerbahçe, Freiburg, Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Rennes are certain of top-two finishes in their 2022/23 UEFA Europa League groups but Arsenal and Manchester United must wait a while longer to join them despite narrow wins on Matchday 4.
Here is a round up of all the Thursday night action.
Bodø/Glimt 0-1 Arsenal
Bukayo Saka finished off a neat move to maintain the Gunners’ perfect Group A start and end the Norwegian side’s 14-match winning home run in Europe. After exchanging passes with Albert Sambi Lokonga, Saka put the ball over the line after his low shot deflected back to him off a Bodø/Glimt defender. The hosts stepped up a gear after the break but goalkeeper Matt Turner denied Amahl Pellegrino and Ola Solbakken fired narrowly over.
Key stat: Arsenal have won their last nine Europa League group stage matches.
Man United 1-0 Omonoia
Scott McTominay latched on to Jadon Sancho’s ball deep into added time to break the hearts of plucky Omonoia and their brilliant goalkeeper Francis Uzoho. The Red Devils dominated in what was their first home game for seven weeks, but could not find a way past the Nigerian keeper until the very last knockings. Marcus Rashford was denied three times in the first half, while Uzoho also touched Casemiro’s rocket on to the bar.
Key stat: McTominay’s goal was just his second in over 30 UEFA club competition appearances.
Real Betis 1-1 Roma
Betis got the point they needed to confirm a top-two spot in Group C, breaking the deadlock on 34 minutes when a Sergio Canales shot from the edge of the box beat Rui Patrício with the help of a deflection off Roger Ibañez. Roma’s Andrea Belotti had a header ruled out for offside, but then levelled from close range in the second half to maintain his side’s chances of a second-placed finish.
Key stat: Roma have now scored in 23 consecutive European away games.
Nantes 0-4 Freiburg
Freiburg reached the knockout stages with an emphatic victory in France. Moussa Sissoko and Sébastien Corchia struck the woodwork for Nantes in the first half, but Lukas Kübler’s powerful finish turned the tide, and Michael Gregoritsch doubled the visitors’ lead before Kevin Schade’s shot took a wicked deflection off Jean-Charles Castelletto for Freiburg’s third. Wooyeong Jeong’s close-range effort completed the scoring late on.
Key stat: Kübler’s goal was his first since last April, when he registered in a 3-0 Bundesliga win against Bochum.
Ferencváros 2-1 Crvena zvezda
Samy Mmaee’s bullet header helped Ferencváros to a vital three points in Group H. Kristoffer Zachariassen gave the hosts the lead in the first half with his eighth of the season in all competitions but a stunning solo effort from Stefan Mitrović put the visitors back on level terms. Denied by the post earlier in the half, Mmaee got the winner when he met Lóránd Pászka’s corner.
Key stat: Ferencváros have won their last six home games in all competitions.
All the Matchday 4 results
Group A: Bodø/Glimt 0-1 Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven 5-0 Zürich
Group B: AEK Larnaca 1-2 Fenerbahçe, Dynamo Kyiv 0-1 Rennes
Group C: Real Betis 1-1 Roma, Ludogorets 2-0 HJK Helsinki
Group D: Union SG 3-3 Braga, Union Berlin 1-0 Malmö
Group E: Man United 1-0 Omonoia, Real Sociedad 3-0 Sheriff
Group F: Feyenoord 2-2 Midtjylland, Lazio 2-2 Sturm Graz
Group G: Nantes 0-4 Freiburg, Qarabağ 0-0 Olympiacos
Group H: Trabzonspor 4-0 Monaco, Ferencváros 2-1 Crvena zvezda
