2024/25 UEFA European Football Roundup: Semi-Finals, Leg 1

UEFA Champions League:

Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan

Barcelona and Inter Milan treated fans to a treat in a 6-goal thriller! After just 30 seconds, Inter Milan had the lead as Marcus Thuram scored with a fantastic little flick! In the 21st minute, it was 2-0 to Inter as Denzel Dumfries scored with a terrific finish of his own! Just 3 minutes later, though, and Barcelona had one back through Lamine Yamal (this was another strong goal) before Yamal hit the crossbar just a minute or so later! In the 38th minute, it was 2-2 as Ferran Torres tapped home from close range! In the Second Half, Federico Dimarco had a decent opportunity to score which he failed to keep down before Inter’s lead was restored in the 64th minute as Denzel Dumfries scored again! However, less than a minute later, and the game was back to being all square as Yann Sommer scored a terribly unlucky own goal! Inter then thought they’d retaken the lead through Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but his goal was ruled out for a very tight offside before Lamine Yamal struck the crossbar for the second time! In the end, Barcelona will have mixed feelings about this draw! Barca take on Real Valladolid before their big trip to Italy! As for Inter Milan, they’ll feel like they should’ve won this game! Inter host Hellas Verona next time out before their big Second Leg tie at the San Siro!

Arsenal 0-1 PSG

An early Paris Saint-Germain goal stunned Arsenal at the Emirates! After less than 200 seconds, PSG already had the lead as Ousmane Dembele scored with a superb finish! Fabian Ruiz was then unlucky as his effort came back out off the post before Gabriel Martinelli had a great chance to score which was kept out by Gianluigi Donnarumma! In the Second Half, Arsenal had a goal ruled out for offside before Trossard was denied by another terrific save by Donnarumma! Bradley Barcola then had a golden chance to make it 2-0 which he poorly dragged wide before Goncalo Ramos smashed the crossbar! In the end, Arsenal just weren’t good enough here! The Gunners host Bournemouth tomorrow before their massive Second Leg in Paris! As for Paris Saint-Germain, they were superb here, but they arguably should’ve won by more! PSG head to Strasbourg next time out before they look to finish things off at home!

UEFA Europa League:

Tottenham 3-1 Bodo/Glimt

It’s very much advantage Tottenham Hotspur after a comfortable First Leg victory in London! After less than 40 seconds, Tottenham already had the lead as Brennan Johnson headed home from close range! In the 34th minute, it was 2-0 to Tottenham as James Maddison scored after a terrific pass from Pedro Porro! Nikita Haikin then pulled out a really important save to stop Rodrigo Bentancur adding another before Spurs were awarded a penalty for a foul on Cristian Romero! It was Dominic Solanke who then stepped up and scored to give Spurs a commanding First Leg lead! However, in the 83rd minute, Bodo/Glimt were able to at least get one back thanks to Ulrik Saltnes’ deflected effort! Overall, it’s still very much a good night’s work for Tottenham Hotspur! Spurs head to West Ham next time out before next week’s Second Leg! As for Bodo/Glimt, it’s important that they got that late goal! Bodo/Glimt can now rest for a week before they welcome Tottenham to Norway!

Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Manchester United

Manchester United pulled out arguably their best performance of the season to stun Athletic Bilbao! Inaki Williams had a golden chance to give Athletic Bilbao the lead early on which he somehow headed over before Victor Lindelof pulled out a goal-saving block! In the 30th minute, it was Manchester United who took the lead as Casemiro was there to head home at the back post! VAR then made a big decision to not only award Manchester United a penalty, but also to send off Daniel Vivian for the denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and it was Bruno Fernandes who stepped up and scored to make it 2-0 to Man United! Right before Halftime, and it was 3-0 to United as Fernandes added his second goal of the evening! Noussair Mazraoui then came close to making it 4-0 as his effort came crashing back off the crossbar before Casemiro struck the post in the Second Half! In the end, this was a terrible night for Athletic Bilbao! Athletic Club head to Real Sociedad on Sunday before they look to pull off a miracle in Manchester! As for Manchester United, this was a terrific win for them! United head to Brentford next time out before they look to close things out at Old Trafford!

UEFA Europa Conference League:

Djurgarden 1-4 Chelsea

Chelsea stormed through Djurgarden to move one step closer to the Europa Conference League Final! After just 13 minutes, Chelsea had the lead through Jadon Sancho, but I have to say that Marcus Danielson really should’ve done better here! Jacob Rinne then pulled out a pretty good save to deny Noni Madueke before Madueke would get his goal just a couple of minutes before Halftime! Filip Jorgensen then pulled out a pretty decent stop to keep the game at 2-0 before he made another good stop in the Second Half! In the 59th minute, it was 3-0 to Chelsea as Nicolas Jackson scored after more shocking defending by Danielson before Jackson added another goal in the 65th! However, just 3 minutes later, and Djurgarden were at least given something to celebrate as Isak Alemayehu Mulugeta headed home well! Adam Stahl then had a golden opportunity to make it 4-2 late on, but he poorly blasted the ball over from close range! In the end, Djurgarden just weren’t good enough here! Djurgarden host AIK next time out before they head to London for next Thursday’s Second Leg! As for Chelsea, they did what they needed to do here! The Blues host Liverpool on Sunday before they host next week’s Second Leg!

Real Betis 2-1 Fiorentina

Real Betis edged out Fiorentina to take a lead into the Second Leg! After 6 minutes, Real Betis already had the lead through Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, but to say he was lucky would be an understatement! Rolando Mandragora then had a good chance to equalise which he failed to guide on target before Marc Barta smashed a good opportunity well over the crossbar! In the Second Half, David De Gea pulled out an important stop to keep Marc Barta’s headed effort out before Real Betis had a second as Antony scored with a cracking strike! Pablo Fornals then had a great chance to make it 3-0 which he could strike straight at De Gea before Fiorentina were at least able to get one back though Luca Ranieri! Overall, this was a good win for Real Betis! Betis go to Espanyol Sunday before they head to Italy next week! As for Fiorentina, them scoring the last goal could prove crucial! Fiorentina head to Roma next time out before they look to turn things around in the Second Leg!