Europa League LIVE: Nantes vs Juventus, Monaco vs Bayer ...

23 Feb 2023

19:01

GOAL: Monaco 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen (4-5)

They have turned it around! Wow. Amine Adli with the goal. 

19:00

What Nantes supporters think about Juventus

'A club of cheating, scheming and repression. Still the same recurring theme for 27 years [in reference to their 1996 Champions League tie],' it reads.

Nantes fans not too keen about Juventus:

"A club of cheating, scheming and repression. Still the same recurring theme for 27 years [in reference to their 1996 UCL tie]." pic.twitter.com/KmDmTRIX8w

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) February 23, 2023

18:59

Scores elsewhere

Sporting's second on the night the only goal this half, so far. 

PSV 0-0 Sevilla (0-3)

Monaco 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen (4-4)

Midtjylland 0-2 Sporting (1-3)

18:58

51: Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

There are more goals in this for Juventus. Di Maria, given far too much time and space on the edge of the box, receives the ball and has time to set himself. He tries to bend one into the far corner but Lafont is equal to it. He can only parry it out to De Sciglio, whose effort is tame and weak and is blocked behind for a corner. 

There is something casual about Juventus, thus far this half.

18:56

GOAL: FC Midtjylland 0-2 Sporting (1-3)

That should be the Portuguese side safely through to the last-16. Pedro Goncalves doubles their advantage on the night, and extends their aggregate lead to 3-1. 

18:54

47': Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

Alex Sandro walking a fine line. He takes out Blas as Nantes threaten to break. The home supporters are urging a booking for the Brazilian, but the referee waves away the protestations. 

18:53

46': Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

Two changes for Nantes at the break. Ganago, back after a difficult few weeks in his personal life, replaces Delort. Sissoko withdrawn for Moutoussamy. 

18:50

Underway

PSV - Sevilla is back underway. The hosts have a tall order on their hands. As do Midtjylland, who have 45 minutes to overcome Sporting - with 10 men. 

No sign of the players as yet in Brittany. 

18:49

Underway at Monaco

Underway at Monaco - Bayer Leverkusen. 

18:39

Half-time scores

Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

PSV (0) 0-0 (3) Sevilla

Monaco (4) 1-2 (4) Bayer Leverkusen 

Midtjylland (1) 0-1 (2) Sporting 

18:38

Half-time: Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

Juventus look destined for the last-16. Di Maria was utterly majestic. Pallois could perhaps consider himself unlucky to have received a red card for handball on the goal line, but with his job allegedly on the line, Allegri's players have delivered a categorical response to the - perhaps - hypothetical question over whether or not they want him to remain in his post.

18:36

45+4: Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

That would have finished it. Kostic is slipped in down the left, a run he so characteristically made for Frankfurt in this competition last term, and his shot across Lafont looks destined for the bottom corner but it ricochets back off the post. 

Nantes are hanging by a thread here. 

It's half time in Eindhoven. PSV continue to trail Sevilla 3-0 on aggregate, goalless on the night. 

18:34

Half-time in Denmark

Sporting are a sensible 45 minutes away from making tomorrow's draw. They lead 1-0 at Midtjylland, 2-1 on aggregate, and the hosts are down to 10 men. 

18:33

Half-time at Monaco

A sensational half of football at Monaco comes to a close. They trail Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 on the night but the sides are level-pegging on aggregate at 4-4. The second half will certainly be one to keep your eye on. 

18:31

Five minutes added on

Five added minutes at Nantes. 

18:31

44': Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

For the first time on the night you can hear Juventus's travelling contingent. They would love to see their side lift this competition this season. It seems Allegri would too, given the side he has put out. 

Nantes continue to come forward and try and press and harry Juventus but they just can't find a breakthrough. 

Locatelli drives forward and has options left and right but fails to find a player. His attempted slipping through of Kean catches the striker cold and Nantes manage to get it clear. But Juventus come again, and a Girotto block is the only thing preventing Di Maria sliding in Rabiot. 

18:27

Midtjylland (1) 0-1 (2) Sporting

The Danish side's task has got a little bit more difficult. Paulinho (not that one) has been sent off for a second bookable offence within two minutes. That is a real gut punch. 

18:25

38': Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

Locatelli has an effort that just brushes the outside of the post. Lafont didn't get a touch. Oh so close to 3-0 Juventus.

Nantes supporters are beginning to get frustrated with some of the referee's decisions. To be expected after a red card, really. 

As yet, there is little sign of something miraculous happening here. The state of the game, combined with the driving rain, has somewhat taken the sting out of the game and the atmosphere. 

18:20

Elsewhere

PSV are making a fist of their tie, with their game still goalless. If they can keep it that way by the break, you do never know. It only takes a second to score a goal, etc. Sevilla lead 3-0 on aggregate.

Sporting still lead 1-0 (1-2) at Midtjylland, while Bayer Leverkusen have levelled it on aggregate on the night as they lead Monaco 2-1 (4-4)

18:18

31': Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

Nantes cannot deal with Di Maria. He slips in De Sciglio and his cross is looking for Moise Kean, who doesn't make his run quickly enough to latch onto it. 

Girotto, who has struggled, just about gets a touch on it to force it behind for a corner. The corner leads to another corner, which Nantes, rather haphazardly, clear. Blas, showing great feet, latches onto it and dances inside two Juventus players before Rabiot, who made a lung-bursting run to get back and help out, nicks the ball off the winger. 

18:16

The penalty incident at Nantes

Harsh? Fair? 

A dream tie is quickly turning into a nightmare for Nantes.. ????

Nicolas Pallios is sent off for a controversial handball in the box, as Di Maria converts the resulting penalty...#UEL pic.twitter.com/X3D09WDtWb

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 23, 2023

18:14

28': Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

It should be 3-0 Juventus. Di Maria is running this game. He picks the ball up on the left, darts inside Mollet and swings the ball in perfectly for Rabiot. The midfielder reaches it, but mistimes his jump and it sails through past the byline and out for a goal kick. Nantes are living a charmed life. 

18:12

24': Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

Nantes make a change. Chirivella the man sacrificed for Traore. If they manage to win the tie from here it would be quite something. They almost managed a sensational comeback in 1996. 

Meanwhile, Sporting lead 1-0 at FC Midtjylland thanks to Sebastian Coates. No goals in Holland, as yet. 

18:09

Monaco (4) 1-2 (4) Bayer Leverkusen

What did we say? A potential classic developing. Bayer Leverkusen draw themselves level on aggregate and restore their advantage on the night. Exequiel Palacios scores to put them 2-1 ahead.

18:07

Monaco (4) 1-1 (3) Bayer Leverkusen

Another goal in the south of France, as Wissam Ben Yedder draws Monaco level. They restore their aggregate advantage. A potential classic developing there. 

18:06

20': Nantes (1) 0-2 (3) Juventus

Juventus double their advantage. Di Maria's backheel a yard out won the penalty, and he duly dispatches it. Superb penalty into his right hand side of the net. 2-0 Juventus. Tie over?

18:05

18': Nantes (1) 0-1 (2) Juventus

That's the difference when you have truly world class players among your ranks. Juventus have done little, but when Di Maria is given the ball they come alive. 

Pallois struggles to halt the Argentine and then resorts, when lying down on the ground, to handling the ball to prevent the ball going in. It's probably instinctive, and it might be considered a harsh decision - but Pallois has to go and Juventus have a chance to double their advantage and surely reach tomorrow's draw. 

Di Maria to step up having created this...

18:03

16': Nantes (1) 0-1 (2) Juventus

Sissoko is making a point of dropping in for Nantes to collect the ball. He's being afforded plenty of time - and space - to turn and face the Juventus defensive banks. 

PENALTY JUVENTUS - red card, Pallois. 

18:02

14': Nantes (1) 0-1 (2) Juventus

Nantes have an effort on the Juventus goal through Ludovic Blas, who grabbed their equaliser last week, though it's dragged wide. 

Juventus are allowing Nantes to have the ball, with the midfield trio of Fagioli, Locatelli and Rabiot sitting off their counterparts. So far, they have been wise to do such with the hosts unable to use it too effectively. 

18:00

Monaco (3) 0-1 (3) Bayer Leverkusen

A potentially special night on the cards in the south of France? Florian Wirtz has just made it 1-0 to the visitors, drawing them level on aggregate on the night. 

Xabi Alonso looks delighted. 

11': Nantes (1) 0-1 (2) Juventus

The goal for your viewing pleasure below. 

Nantes are appealing for a red card here from the referee to be dished out to Alex Sandro. They say he elbowed Delort. Total nonsense. Get on with it. 

17:56

Elsewhere

Remains 0-0 in all of the other games so far. 

Juventus, meanwhile, are trying to make their pressure tell as they try and put the game beyond Nantes.

The hosts look a bit shellshocked, in truth. Kostic feels he should have been awarded a corner, but nothing doing. 

17:55

8': Nantes 0-1 Juventus

It's been a really frantic start here. That Di Maria goal has done little to calm proceedings down.

They have just shown a replay of that Di Maria strike. Quite something. Certainly no question marks over whether or not he meant that. Ahem, Seamus Coleman. 

17:51

5': Nantes 0-1 Juventus DI MARIA

Oh wow. Oh wow. That is spectacular. 1-0 Juventus.

The visitors come forward in what must surely have been their first foray into the Nantes defensive third. Fagioli shovels the ball out to Di Maria on the right hand side and you can just tell what he was going to do. 

He bends the ball spectacularly with his left foot into the far corner. Wow. 

17:50

4': Nantes 0-0 Juventus

Great start from the home side. Chirivella has a great opportunity to let fly at the Juventus goal but he delays and the Italian giants get the ball clear. 

Allegri's side would be minded to keep this tight and see if they can try and calm proceedings down somewhat. It's been frantic on and off the pitch. 

17:48

1': Nantes 0-0 Juventus

A seriously loud occasion at Nantes. These two sides last met in European competition in the semi-finals of the 1995-96 Champions League. No Juve supporter will need reminding what Lippi's side went on to do in the final. 

The hosts are enjoying an early spell of sustained possession. 

17:46

Underway across the board

All the games are underway. Who can make themselves a hero tonight? There are some big stories out there. 

17:43

Tifos are out at the Stade de la Beaujoire

Players are emerging out of the tunnel into a cacophony of noise. You are reminded on nights such as these just how much Europe's traditionally second-tier competition means to a lot of sides. 

This will be tough for Juventus.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Play-Off Second Leg - Nantes v Juventus - The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, France - February 23, 2023 Nantes fans inside the stadium before the match before the match REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

17:33

15 minutes to go

Just 15 minutes to go until kick-off in the 5:45 Europa League fixtures this evening. 

A reminder of the aggregate scorelines.

Nantes (1) vs (1) Juventus

Midtjylland (1) vs (1) Sporting

PSV Eindhoven (0) vs (3) Sporting 

Monaco (3) vs (2) Bayer Leverkusen 

17:22

Later on this evening

Undoubtedly the tie of the evening comes from the north-west of England this evening, where Manchester United and Barcelona are getting set do battle.

The 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp last week was one of the games of the season, with two of Europe's true heavyweights going toe-to-toe in a competition, frankly, neither want to be in.

You can follow live coverage of the build up to that game with Dan Ripley by clicking the link below. 

17:16

Juventus and Allegri

Allegri's return to the Allianz Stadium hot seat has not gone how anybody connected to the club would have wanted. Whether or not they envisaged it, is another matter. 

The Italian oversaw one of the most successful eras in the club's storied history during the mid-2010s, when they swept up every Scudetto there was to win over a near-decade period and reached two Champions League finals, losing both. 

Returning following the disastrous experiment that was relative novice Andrea Pirlo taking the job, the club has been mired in scandal after scandal and speculation surrounding Allegri's future just will not dissipate. 

Amid seriously concerning allegations related to the club's transfer dealings stretching back years, which saw the board resign late last year, including long-standing president Andrea Agnelli, they find themselves toiling in Serie A, gasping for air as a top four finish becomes a distant figment of their imagination. 

The Europa League really is the last chance they have of playing among Europe's elite next season. Should they not win tonight, and be eliminated by relative minnows Nantes, it is anybody's guess as to when the Old Lady might next be competing in the Champions League.

No pressure, Massimiliano. 

17:04

Tomorrow's draw

So tonight's fixtures are the second leg of the play-off ties between those who finished second in their group and those sides that dropped down from the Champions League. 

Tomorrow's draw will see the knockout phase for the Europa League really begin in earnest, with those who finished top of their group before Christmas entering the competition.

The seeded sides for tomorrow's draw are as follows: Arsenal (ENG), Betis (ESP), Fenerbahce (TUR) Ferencvaros (HUN), Feyenoord (NED), Freiburg (GER), Real Sociedad (ESP) and Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)

17:01

FC Midtjylland (1) vs (1) Sporting Lisbon team news

FC Midtjylland (1) vs (1) Sporting Lisbon team news

16:59

Monaco (3) vs (2) Bayer Leverkusen team news

Team news from the south of France. 

16:53

PSV (0) - (3) Sevilla team news

'Believe' is the obvious message from PSV this evening. They will need a lot of that, and quite a bit more to overturn what looks an insurmountable aggregate scoreline. 

Benitez; Mwene, Ramalho, Branthwaite, Van Aanholt; Veerman, Til, Gutierrez; Bakayoko, De Jong, Xavi

Substitutes: Drommel, Waterman, Teze, Obispo, Silva, Sangare, Saibari, Mauro Jr., Boscagli, Ledezma, Van Duiven, Seelt

Sevilla: Bono; Jesus Navas, Nianzou, Fernando, Alex Telles; Acuna, Jordan, Oliver T., Rakitic; Bryan Gil, En-Nesyri 

Substitutes: Dmitrovic, Alberto, Montiel, Suso, Rafa Mir, Carlos A., Hormigo, Bueno, O. Campos

16:48

Nantes (1) - (1) Juventus team news

Strong team from Allegri this evening. 

Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Alex Sandro; De Sciglio, Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Di Maria, Kean.

Nantes go: Lafont; Centonze, Castelletto, Girotto, Pallois; Sissoko, Chirivella, Mollet; Blas, Delort, Simon.

16:43

Good evening

Hello and welcome to this evening's live coverage of the four 5:45 (GMT) Europa League play-off round second leg ties. 

A quick turnaround from last week, Juventus travel to Nantes with their European season hanging firmly in the balance having been held to a 1-1 draw by the French side. Talk has focused this week on Massimiliano Allegri and his future at the club - what would a defeat tonight spell for him? 

Meanwhile, PSV Eindhoven have a tall order on their hands tonight as they seek to overturn a three-goal deficit against perennial Europa League winners Sevilla. 

Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso - who never won this competition as a player - will seek to come from 3-2 down on aggregate to knockout Monaco. 

While Danish side FC Midtjylland host Sporting Lisbon with that tie firmly in the balance having finished 1-1 in the Portuguese capital last week. 

Team news is to follow shortly. 
 

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