Inter and Manchester United advanced to the semifinals of the Europa League following their tonight’s wins. Inter was better than Bayer Leverkusen, while United eliminated FC Copenhagen after extra times.
Lukaku’s Show
The Belgian international, and one of the best players in Europe this year scored once again, setting the new record of the Europa League competition. Lukaku managed to net in nine straight games, and became the only player to do so.
His Inter advanced to the top four of the competition, beating the Germans with 2-1, with all three goals coming in the opening 21 minutes.
At first, it was Barella who gave the lead to Nerazzurri, with a superb laser-precise outside kick, which would end in the far bottom corner of Lucas Hradecky’s goal.
Just a few minutes later, the same player had a chance to double the lead but his shot was very poor. Lukaku erased all that with a goal in the 20th minute, using his massive power and strength to beat both the defenders and Bayer’s goalie.
Still, one minute later, Kai Havertz decreased the lead, indicating that Leverkusen might come back.
Until the end of the game, we saw two penalties awarded to Inter, and revoked after VAR consultations. Carlos del Cerro Grande, the referee of the event, was in the middle of the attention, it the 26th and 91st minute.
The game was lively, with an initiative on both ends, but without proper finishing. Anyhow, Inter is in the semis, and they fully deserved this success, after dominating in tonight’s contest.
United Eliminates Copenhagen, Not Confident at All
If Red Devils continue to play like they did tonight, winning the Europa League title would be mission impossible for Solskjaer and his boys.
Even though United had better statistics than their tonight’s rivals, the match against Copenhagen needs to be forgotten very fast. Pogba, Martial, Rashford, and the rest of the team were looking like mediocre players, and that especially goes for the opening 45 minutes, in which the Danes threatened on a couple of occasions pretty good.
All the lines in the team wee below the expectations, and it is no wonder why they advanced to the semis following the extra-times, 1-0.
The only goal of the match came after a penalty, with Bruno Fernandes once again in the main role. It took place in the fifth minute of the ET, and we are free to say that United wouldn’t breach Copenhagen’s defense if it weren’t for this.
We’ve seen one mistake of the refs in the final moments of the match, once Lindelof handballed in front of his box, but there was no whistle.
Solskjaer has a lot to think about if he plans to reach the finals and win one trophy since coming to Old Trafford. They are playing their next match on Sunday, August 16, with the better from Wolverhampton vs. Seville. With this current game, United’s success here is highly questionable, especially as they face two very defensive-minded opponents.
