SOCCER - EUROPA LEAGUE
2020/21
Last 32, 1st Leg - Tottenham Hotspur (4) @ (1) Wolfsberger - Spurs took control of the tie with a big win against the Austrians in Budapest. The game was played in Hungary due to Coronavirus restrictions. Goals from Son Heung-Min, Gareth Bale and Lucas Moura gave Tottenham a comfortable lead at the half and a 2nd half goal from Carlos Vinicius completed the scoring. Wolfsberger did pull a goal back through a Michael Liendl penalty to give them a small chance for the 2nd leg (9, 23 minutes hi-lites - On the same disc as the 2nd leg, 1 Disc, BT Sport - Dempsey/Jenas, PAL)
Last 32, 2nd Leg - Wolfsberger (0) @ (4) Tottenham Hotspur - Spurs booked their place in the Last 16 with a resounding win at White Hart Lane, comfortably beating the Austrians. Goals from Delle Alli (a great overhead kick), Carlos Vinicius (2) and Gareth Bale did the damage with Alli having a great game by providing assists for 2 of the 4 goals (9, 46 minutes hi-lites - On the same disc as the 1st leg, 1 Disc, BT Sport - Darke/Jenas, PAL)
Semi-Final, 1st Leg - Roma (2) @ (6) Manchester United - In a sensational match at Old Trafford, Manchester United put one foot in the Final with a stunning 2nd half display. United were 2-1 down at half-time as Roma were in complete control, but the Reds exploded for 3 goals in 11 minutes in the 2nd half to take control of the game and easily saw out the game for the advantage in the tie. The United goals came from Bruno Fernandes (2), Edinson Cavani (2), Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood. The Roma goals came from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Edin Dzeko (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Darke/Savage, PAL)
Semi-Final, 2nd Leg - Manchester United (2) @ (3) Roma - Manchester United reached their first Final of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era, winning the Semi-Final 8-5 on aggregate. Roma saved face with a spirited fight-back in the Stadio Olimpico, but the damage had been done in the 1st leg. Both teams combined for 35 shots on goal. The Roma goals came from Edin Dzeko, Bryan Cristante and an Own Goal. The United goals came from Edinson Cavani (2) (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Drury/Savage, PAL)
Semi-Final, 2nd Leg - Villareal (0) @ (0) Arsenal - Holding on to their 2-1 lead from the 1st Leg, Villareal booked a place in the Final with a dogged defensive performance at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal knew they needed a single goal to go through to the Final on the "Away Goals" rule, but they couldn't break through the Spanish Defense, creating only 1 shot on goal, although they did hit the woodwork twice. With the loss, Arsenal had their 25 year run in European Competition ended as they were not in a position in the league to qualify for any competition in 2021/22. Villareal featured former Arsenal coach Unai Emery, Alberto Moreno and Pau Torres. Arsenal featured Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Ødegaard (9, 2 Discs, BT Sport - Darke/Carney, PAL)
Final - Villareal (1) v (1) Manchester United - At the Gdansk Stadium in Poland, Spanish side Villareal won their 1st ever Major trophy with a sensational penalty shootout win. Villareal were an underdog in the game but were coached by Unai Emery, a serial winner in the Europa League. And he put together a perfect game-plan to beat United, using a strong Defensive effort and an opportunistic Offense to take the English side to a Penalty Shootout after the game finished 1-1. Both teams went toe-to-toe in the shootout with 10 perfect penalties each which just left the goalkeepers to take their kicks. Villareal goalie Geronimo Rulli blasted home his kick then promptly saved United goalie David de Gea's kick to win the game and the trophy. The Villareal goal came from Gerard Moreno. The Manchester United goal game from Edinson Cavani. Disc 1 includes the BT Sport Final Preview (9, Missing the opening 15 minutes of pre-game, 3 Discs, BT Sport - Darke/Savage, PAL)