Barcelona – Juan Mata’s strike sent Manchester United through to the Europa League quarter-finals at the expense of FK Rostov with a 1-0 win (2-1 on aggregate), while Schalke 04 came from behind to draw 2-2 at Borussia Monchengladbach and progress on away goals (3-3).
Mata struck at Old Trafford in the 70th minute to seal a tidy counter attack after Zlatan Ibrahimovic flicked Henrikh Mkhitarayan’s cross on to him at the back post, at a moment in the game where the visitors had wrestled their way on top.
“It was a matter of finishing our chances again. We created some good chances but we could not score. It is important we kept a clean sheet so we are happy today,” said Mata.
Celta Vigo, Besiktas and Genk reach Europa League quarters– Besiktas’s Vincent Aboubakar gets a red card during a Europa League round-of-16 second-leg football match at Vodafone Arena stadium in Istanbul on Thursday. Celta Vigo, Besiktas and Genk all qualified during the night’s games. Depo Photos via ZUMA Wire) Photo: Depo Photos/dpa
“Our aim is to win every tournament we play in. It is a good chance to play Champions League next season and we will try until the end. The level in the Europa League is difficult.”
Victory came at a price for the Red Devils with Paul Pogba and Daley Blind being taken off injured in the second half.
Defender Chris Smalling added: “We have two top quality goalkeepers and they step up when called. We have a good squad.
“We hope the injuries to Daley Blind and Paul Pogba are not too serious.”
Meanwhile at Borussia Park the hosts went two goals up in the first half thanks to a deflected strike from on-loan Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen and then a brilliant long-range strike from Mahmoud Dahoud.
But Leon Goretzka started the Schalke comeback in the 54th minute with a bouncing rocket from the edge of the box, before Nabil Bentaleb converted a controversial penalty to level the score and send his team ahead on away goals.
Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot after Dahoud was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, but it struck his shoulder.
Goretzka said: “It was a great thing, to come back, but we played well in the first half despite the deficit and I’m curious to see who we now get as an opponent.”
Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer did not want to talk about Clattenburg’s decision to award Schalke the penalty which sent them through.
“I cannot say anything about the penalty,” he insisted. “The referee decided it, the ball was there. I cannot and I will not say anything more, it doesn’t change anything.”
Elsewhere Ajax beat FC Copenhagen 2-0 to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit and progress (3-2), while AS Roma beat Lyon 2-1 but were eliminated (4-5), while Anderlecht beat Apoel Nicosia 1-0 to enter Friday’s draw in Nyon.
Earlier in the evening Celta Vigo eased through with a 2-0 win over Krasnodar in Russia on Thursday, progressing 4-1 on aggregate, while Besiktas beat Olympiacos 4-1 (5-2) and Genk drew 1-1 with Gent (6-3) to qualify.
Following a 2-1 victory at home in the first leg, Hugo Mallo opened the second leg, scoring in the 52nd minute when he blasted home a loose ball before Iago Aspas doubled the Galicians’ lead with a neat lob after good interplay with John Guidetti.
Charles Kabore was sent off for two yellow cards to complete a miserable night for the hosts.
“I congratulate my players for a fantastic night of football,” said Celta coach Eduardo Berizzo, after his team matched their greatest European achievement to date by reaching the last eight of the competition.
“We bore through some anxious minutes but later we found liberation with the second goal. We won a sensational game fighting against everything, against the fans and a very tough opponent.”
-dpa
