Two thrilling fixtures took place as AC Milan faced off against Roma and Bayer Leverkusen went head-to-head with West Ham United in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The clash between two Italian giants, AC Milan, and Roma, ended 1-0 in favor of Roma.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham United squared off in a match that was sure to showcase some top-quality football from both sides.
The German club later emerged triumphant with a deserving 2-0 win against the English side, West Ham United.
Let’s dive into the post-match analysis of these exciting encounters and relive the moments that made these games unforgettable for fans and players alike.
AC Milan 0-1 Roma
In a thrilling match between Roma and Milan, Roma started with a bang, showing intense drive and determination from the get-go.
Paulo Dybala’s left-footed shot and Lorenzo Pellegrini’s attempt were close calls but unfortunately missed the mark.
Despite Roma’s early dominance, AC Milan had a glimmer of hope with Tijjani Reijnders’ shot from outside the box, expertly saved by Mile Svilar in the bottom left corner.
As the match progressed, Roma continued to showcase their strength, with Romelu Lukaku setting up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
By the 5th minute of half-time, Roma enjoyed 67% ball possession compared to Milan’s 33%, highlighting their control of the game.
Stephan El Shaarawy put in a strong effort with a shot on target, but unfortunately, the keeper was able to make the save.
Roma eventually found the back of the net in the 17th minute when Gianluca Mancini headed in a corner delivered by Paulo Dybala.
AC Milan had their chances to equalize, with Olivier Giroud seeing his effort blocked and Davide Calabria swinging in a corner that was ultimately cleared by Roma after a foul by Christian Pulisic on El Shaarawy.
Pulisic was booked for the foul, leading to a free kick for Roma.
Despite AC Milan’s efforts to find an equalizer, Roma held on for the victory thanks to their solid defensive play and Mancini’s early goal.
After a hard-fought match, Roma emerged victorious with a 1-0 win over AC Milan.
Overall, Roma’s drive and dominance proved to be the defining factors in their performance against AC Milan, ultimately leading them to a well-deserved victory.
West Ham United 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Hoffman and Victor Boniface secured an exciting win for Bayer Leverkusen over a resilient West Ham United with two dramatic late goals.
West Ham seemed content to sit back and soak up pressure, with Leverkusen dictating the play and controlling possession.
Bayer Leverkusen made several attempts to create scoring opportunities early in the match, with Amine Adli and Patrik Schick both getting shots on target.
However, they were unable to capitalize on their chances as James Ward-Prowse and West Ham’s defense stood firm.
Wirtz’s early free-kick caused some trouble for West Ham, but Coufal was able to clear the danger.
Bayer Leverkusen attempted to open the scoresheet in the 10th minute as Amine Adli fired a shot on target, but James Ward-Prowse relieved the pressure with a clearance.
The host boasted a dominant lead of 87% ball possession against West Ham’s 13% in the 20th minute.
However, despite their dominance, Leverkusen struggled to break down West Ham’s defense in the early start.
A great chance occurred for Leverkusen as Patrik Schick directed a shot on target, but the keeper saved it.
Bayer Leverkusen took a throw-in in the opponent’s half of the field but Kurt Zouma made the tackle and won possession for his team.
West Ham’s defensive resilience was being tested, as they struggled to get out of their half.
After several attempts made by the visitors, Hoffman and Victor Boniface turned the table with two dramatic last-minute goals.
In the 83rd minute, Jonas Hofmann scored an impressive volley with his left foot to open the scoring. Then in the 90+1 minute, Victor Boniface headed in a goal after a perfect corner kick from Hofmann.
The Hammers have had success in Europe in recent years, but they will face a tough challenge when they take on Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen, led by highly sought-after head coach Xabi Alonso, have registered an impressive 41-game unbeaten streak and are close to securing their first Bundesliga title while also making it to the German Cup final.
