Europa League

MARCUS RASHFORD fumed at the referee after Manchester United’s thrilling 2-2 draw at Barcelona.That’s after being denied a free-kick from a clear foul by Jules Kounde.
Marcus Rashford fumed at the ref for not giving him a free-kick against BarcelonaCredit: Getty
Rashford believes he was fouled by Jules Kounde in Man Utd’s 2-2 drawCredit: Getty
The Red Devils played out a Europa League epic at the Nou Camp on Thursday as both sides netted twice.
Rashford, who lined up as a No9 after a tactical tweak, scored one goal and created the other in another top performance.
His strike came just moments after Barcelona took an early second-half lead through Marcos Alonso.
And after Kounde later turned in Rashford’s ball for an own-goal to put United ahead, Barca found a timely leveller when Raphinha’s cross went in untouched.
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But Rashford believes things could have turned out differently had a decision by referee Maurizio Mariani gone in his favour.
With United 2-1 up, the England star appeared to be bundled over by defender Kounde while charging towards Barcelona’s goal.
Mariani was close by the incident and able to take a good look.
But he decided against awarding Rashford the foul, which occurred on the edge of Barcelona’s box.
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It sparked an angry reaction from boss Erik ten Hag, who received a yellow card for his troubles.
And speaking later on, Rashford revealed he was lost for words after Mariani’s decision.
That’s while also admitting United’s dramatic draw felt more like a defeat on the night.
Rashford said: “It feels like a loss. I think we did well to get back into the game but we stayed calm and composed, and created chances when we could.
It is clear contact. It is 100 per cent a foul, even if it was outside the boxMarcus Rashford
“We felt in control of the outcome after scoring two goals in quick succession but we just couldn’t hold on.
“We were searching for chances more after half-time and I felt like we were going for it a bit more, especially after going behind.
“[My goal?] It’s difficult to find an angle to finish from there so I just tried to get as clean a contact as I could and thankfully it went in.
“[Kounde’s foul?] It is a massive moment in the game and in the moment I did not understand why the assistant or referee thinks I’m going down there.
“I touched it past him and I am going through and he clips my leg. It is clear contact. It is 100 per cent a foul, even if it was outside the box.” More

JOSE MOURINHO had a face like thunder as RB Salzburg beat Roma with a late goal.That’s after seeing opposition boss Matthias Jaissle sprint down the touchline to celebrate – just like he famously did nearly 20 years ago with Porto.
Matthias Jaissle copied Jose Mourinho’s touchline run after Salzburg’s winner against RomaCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Mourinho had a face like thunder after seeing his Roma side concede late onCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
We’ve seen this before somewhere 👀José Mourinho can only watch on as Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle sprints down the touchline to celebrate a late goal.#UEL pic.twitter.com/znLbnB9vHw— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 16, 2023

Roma were favourites for tonight’s Europa League first-leg knockout tie in Austria.
Mourinho, recently criticised by club icon Antonio Cassano, named a strong starting XI including Tammy Abraham, Paulo Dybala and Nemanja Matic.
But despite dominating proceedings, the Europa Conference League champs could not prevent Nicolas Capaldo from firing in an 88th minute Salzburg winner.
It sparked wild celebrations amongst the midfielder’s teammates.
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Yet it was manager Jaissle who caught the eye as he charged down the touchline to join in the fun.
The 34-year-old is quickly making a name for himself after taking points off Chelsea and AC Milan in the Champions League group stage.
But one man was not amused by Jaissle’s celebratory antics.
Mourinho looked like he wanted the ground to open up as Salzburg toasted their strike.
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📅 OTD in 2004…Jose Mourinho ran down the Old Trafford touchline to celebrate Porto’s last-minute equaliser against Man Utd 😳An absolutely iconic #UCL moment 🤣 pic.twitter.com/PjZlXbXaXp— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 9, 2021

Yet he could not complain too much about their manager’s touchline run, having done exactly the same thing while at Porto in March 2004.
The Special One famously charged along the Old Trafford pitch when his Portuguese side netted a last-gasp winner against Manchester United in the Champions League.
Porto went on to win the tournament before Mourinho changed Premier League history by taking the Chelsea job.
And fans quickly reacted to the amusing scenes on Twitter.
One said: “I’ve seen this before.”
Another declared: “If Jose wins at home he’s going to take off too.”
One noted: “Mourinho outcoached by Jaissle.”
Another added: “Mourinho wasn’t animated enough for my liking, I would have liked more screaming and shouting.”
Reacting to the result, Mourinho said afterwards: “This is football, is what we say in these situations. You have to score goals.
“It could’ve not happened, but it happened. I think we dominated the game. We were always in control of a match that was very relaxed for us.
“We missed some incredible chances and there was a clear penalty not awarded to us in the first half.
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“We were unlucky with the change of referee to this gentleman here. Conceding a goal in the final minutes was unjust.
“We have to put the ball in the net. When we don’t, then there is this risk. We know who we are, we know our limits, but when my team gives its all, I never have a negative word to say.” More

FANS are in shock after witnessing a bizarre own goal in the Europa League.And Bayer Levekusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky would be right to feel hard done after putting into his own net against Monaco.

Breel Embolo forced an own goal from Lukas HradeckyCredit: Getty
The goalkeeper was bundled over causing the ball to go into the goalCredit: AP
Hradecky clearly thought he had been fouledCredit: AP
The Bundesliga side were taking on the French outfit in the Europa League play-offs at the BayArena.
In the ninth minute of the clash, Hradecky was bundled into by Monaco striker Breel Embolo, causing the ball to roll into the net.
The situation came from a fairly controlled situation as the ball was passed back to the Finnish stopper.
However, he was not quick enough to clear the ball before Embolo caught up to him and helped the ball cross the line.
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Hradecky and manager Xabi Alonso were left fuming after justifiably feeling the goalkeeper had been fouled by the striker.
But it was not seen that way by referee Orel Grinfeeld and the goal was given.
Replays showed that Embolo did not get a touch on the ball before colliding with Hradecky, causing him to dive it into his own net.
And fans were in agreement with the Bayer Leverkusen complaints on social media.
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One tweeted: “First tackle is to the keeper not to the ball. Definitely, a foul.”
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A second commented: “Wow, clear foul, plays the man which impedes him playing the ball. Unbelievable.”
A third wrote: “Not a goal. Forward gets no part of the ball and only the keeper. Shocking decision.”
A fourth said: “Foul all day long!!”
A fifth added: “I’m struggling to see how this isn’t called as a foul? Literally clatters the keeper and makes ZERO contact with the ball.”
It is not the first time Hradecky has conceded an embarrassing own goal.
In November 2020, in Bundesliga clash against VFL Bochum, he got a kick completely wrong and missed the ball, leading it to roll into the empty net. More

XAVI had warned his team that Marcus Rashford could be their undoing.So it almost proved as marvellous Marcus scored one and set up another as Manchester United battled out a draw in the Nou Camp.
Marcus Rashford was on target as Man Utd drew 2-2 with BarcelonaCredit: Getty
The Europa League knockout battle is poised for an epic return leg at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters

Forget the fact that this was a Europa League game. Forget it was the first leg of a play-off with just a place in the last 16 of the little loved competition as the reward for winning the tie.
The fixture and the names of the two clubs meant this was special and so was the game.
The build up had certainly suggested this would be a cracker.
After all it was Barcelona versus Manchester United, two heavyweights of the game, even if they have become a bit lightweight of late.
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But with the Spanish giants leading La Liga by eight points and United showing signs they were on their way back it is certainly better times now than of late both at the Nou Camp and Old Trafford.
Both managers Xavi and Erik Ten Hag had praised the jobs each other were doing at their respective clubs.
Ten Hag also talked up the influence of Johan Cruyff on both himself and Barca.
While the magical football the Dutch legend sprinkled on football pitch was in short supply in the first half the second was a different matter as the team’s shared four goals.
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Marcos Alonso gave the home side a 50th minute lead before Rashford levelled things up two minutes later and then fired in the cross that Jules Kounde turned past his own goalkeeper on 59.
United looked to be heading towards only their second ever win over the five time European Cup winners but Raphinha’s cross from the right wing evaded everyone and found the bottom left-hand corner for the equaliser.
The best chance of the first period would fall to Wout Weghorst and we know what that means.
It is fair to say the on loan Dutchman has hardly been a hit since United bought him out of his spell at Besiktas.
Only one goal has come from his nine starts.
Barcelona broke the deadlock just minutes into the second halfCredit: AP
Marcos Alonso headed home as he paid tribute to his late dadCredit: AP
Ten Hag finally decided it was better he did not start up front on his own as he moved Rashford into the middle and dropped Weghorst back into a number 10 role.
It was from there that Bruno Fernandes found him with a great through ball on 28 minutes.
It left him one on one with Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Not to the surprise of the United fans high up behind in the Nou Camp that the goalkeeper came off best with the Dutchman’s shot too close to him and saved easily.
He really is not a Manchester United striker and for all the good recruitment in the summer the club’s failure to find one will prove costly in what could be an otherwise fine season.

Rashford equalised soon after for UnitedCredit: Getty
It was the striker’s 22nd goal this seasonCredit: AP
Anthony Martial should be that man but he is always injured.
They could do with a Lewandowski who at the other end had a good effort after just nine minutes which the inform David de Gea saved well.
Then when United’s summer target Frenkie de Jong found him on 25 minutes it was Raphael Varane to the rescue nicking the ball off his toe.
Jadon Sancho would have a great chance at the start of the second half.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka crossed from the right, Weghorst’s attempted flick with his instep deflected to Sancho who with nobody on him sent a clear shot the wrong side of the near post.
United then went ahead through a Jules Kounde own-goal on the hour markCredit: Reuters
The Red Devils looked to be cruising to a famous winCredit: Getty
It proved even more costly when two minutes later a Raphinha corner found Marcos Alonso at the far post and his downward header squeezed between De Gea and the near post.
Quite what Fred was complaining about is anyone’s guess as it was his man and he lost him.
Still the Brazilian would redeem himself with the through ball two minutes later for Rashford to score.
What a finish it was too from the 25-year-old brimming with confidence as he fired a shot inside the near post.
He was instrumental in United taking the lead just short of the hour as he received a shot corner from Luke Shaw and pinged the ball across the six-yard box.
Barcelona had other plans as they netted a 76th minute equaliserCredit: Reuters
Raphinha’s cross went all the way through untouched before hitting the netCredit: Getty
Bruno Fernandes got a flick on it and the ball went in off  Kounde.
United claimed the same Barcelona player had fouled Rashford in the area on 63 miniutes as he looked to have barged him off the ball.
Ten Hag certainly thought so and got a yellow card for his vehement protests as no sport-kick was awarded.
Barcelona equalised when former Leeds winger Raphinha crossed from the right and the ball evaded everyone and found the far bottom corner.
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United would be happy to hang on in the end when chaos ensued in their penalty area as the ball rattled around, hit the post and De Gea saved.
It was some second half as a packed Nou Camp appreciated at the final whistle. More