It was a memorable night for British clubs in the Europa League, as Manchester United and Tottenham shrugged off lackluster performances in the first leg to secure their spots in the quarter-finals. Rangers also joined the celebration after an electrifying penalty shootout victory against Fenerbahce.
Old Trafford witnessed a nail-biting encounter filled with penalties when Manchester United took on Real Sociedad in their second-leg showdown. The Spanish side got an early boost with Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty in the 10th minute, putting them ahead 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate. However, Bruno Fernandes turned the tide for United with two penalties of his own. The turning point came in the 63rd minute when Sociedad’s Jon Aramburu was shown a red card for his foul on Patrick Dorgu. With a man advantage, United dominated as Fernandes completed his hat-trick, and Diogo Dalot added an injury-time goal, sealing a 5-2 aggregate victory.
Tottenham, on the other hand, cruised past AZ Alkmaar, showcasing a stark contrast to their previous week’s 1-0 loss in the Netherlands. Wilson Odobert opened the scoring for Spurs midway through the first half, while James Maddison extended their lead with a sublime strike early in the second half. Although a defensive lapse allowed Peer Koopmeiners to briefly equalize, Odobert capped off a brilliant team move, securing the win for Ange Postecoglou’s squad.
The night’s most gripping spectacle, however, unfolded at Ibrox.
### Butland the Hero for Rangers
Rangers had already set the stage with an impressive 3-1 away triumph against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in Istanbul. Yet, things seemed to unravel when Sebastian Szymanski’s two goals equalized the aggregate score, pushing the game into extra time. Despite Fenerbahce’s dominance in the additional 30 minutes, they couldn’t find the net to clinch the win. In the midst of a roaring Ibrox crowd, Jack Butland emerged as Rangers’ savior.
In the penalty shootout, Butland stopped Dusan Tadic’s attempt with his legs. Although Ianis Hagi’s miss added tension for the home fans, Butland once again stepped up, denying Fred. Tom Lawrence’s confident penalty strike brought Rangers to the brink, and the stadium erupted when Mert Yandas missed, sending the Scottish side through.
### Athletic Still Dreaming of San Mamés Final
Rangers’ next challenge comes against Athletic Bilbao, whose stadium will host the Europa League final in May. Bilbao overturned their deficit from the first leg by defeating Roma to advance to the quarter-finals. Roma had the advantage after a 2-1 win at the Stadio Olimpico, but an early red card for Mats Hummels gave Bilbao the upper hand. Nico Williams capitalized with a brace, bookending Yuri Berchiche’s 64th-minute goal. Although Leandro Paredes managed a late penalty, Bilbao held on for a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Hummels issued an apology on social media following the game, acknowledging his costly mistake. Meanwhile, Ajax fans were left disillusioned after their team suffered a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt, who cruised through with a 6-2 aggregate win, with Mario Gotze scoring twice.
Lazio, in contrast to their city rivals Roma, advanced with a 3-2 aggregate win against Viktoria Plzen, thanks to Alessio Romagnoli’s crucial goal in the 77th minute. They are set to face Bodo/Glimt, who progressed 4-2 on aggregate despite a loss to Olympiacos.
Lastly, Manchester United’s next obstacle will be Lyon, who dispatched FCSB with a comprehensive 4-0 victory, amassing a 7-1 aggregate score in the process.
