It’s been a season of comebacks. I don’t think anybody has seen so many great comebacks in one season. Be it Champions League or Europa League, there have been great matches played and one can see some exciting football on display. There have been heart breaking moments for some and good memories for others. It has been an action packed football in March as some of the cubs have played domestic leagues, domestic cups and European championships.
Barcelona beating PSG 6-5 (on aggregate) has been so far the best and arguably one of the greatest comebacks in the history of tournament. Other teams that produced come backs were current English champions Leicester City against Sevilla after trailing 2-1 in first leg and winning 2-0 in the second leg.
Europa league has had its fare share of comebacks. FC Schalke came from 2-0 down, and 3-1 on aggregate, to beat Bundesliga rivals Borussia Monchengladbach on away goals.
Bertrand Traore and Kasper Dolberg scored as Ajax beat FC Copenhagen 2-0 to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit to progress.
AS Roma fell just short of their comeback, as they were knocked out of the Europa league by Lyon. The second-placed Serie A side trailed 5-2 on aggregate when Mouctar Diakhaby headed the French side into the lead on the night. But Kevin Strootman prodded home an immediate equaliser and a Lucas Tousart own goal narrowed the gap but Roma could not find a late strike to take them through on away goals. Edin Dzeko had the moment of the match, but he fired a good chance late in the game over the bar.
Manchester United beat FC Rostov 1-0 to go through 2-1 overall.
Ryan Babel scored his first two European goals since 2010 as 10-man Besiktas beat Olympiakos 4-1 in Istanbul, 5-2 on aggregate.
Celta Vigo, Spain’s only representatives left in the tournament, beat FK Krasnodar 2-0 in Russia to progress 4-1 overall.
Anderlecht beat Apoel Nicosia 1-0 (2-0 on aggregate), while Genk beat fellow Belgians Gent 6-3 on aggregate after a 1-1 second-leg draw.
Here are brief scores from Thursday 16th March Round of 16 (second leg)
-
Besiktas 4 Olympiakos 1
(Agg 5-2) FT
-
FK Krasnodar 0 Celta Vigo 2
(Agg 1-4) FT -
KRC Genk 1 KAA Gent 1
(Agg 6-3) FT
-
AjaxFC 2 Copenhagen 0
(Agg 3-2) FT
-
B Gladbach 2 Schalke 2
(Agg 3-3) FT (FC Schalke 04 win on away goals)
-
Man Utd 1 FC Rostov 0
(Agg 2-1) FT
-
Roma 2 Lyon 1
(Agg 4-5) FT
-
Anderlecht 1 Apoel Nic 0
(Agg 2-0) FT
The quarter finals draws will be on 17th March 12.00 pm GMT. The quarter-finals will be played on Thursday 13 and 20 April, with the sides drawn first out of the pot playing the first leg at home.
Meanwhile, there are three former winners, the Turkish champions and a side in the hunt for their last missing European trophy still standing in the Europa League. Can you name them all ? Leave your answers in comments below.
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