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March 18, 2022

March 18, 2022 IFMSPORTS

Aubameyang Winner Sends Barcelona Into Europa League Quarter-Finals

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his seventh goal in as many games to help Barcelona beat Galatasaray in the Europa League.

The ex-Arsenal player hit the winner to complete an impressive comeback after Galatasaray had taken the lead.

With the tie poised at 0-0 after the first leg, Brazilian defender Marcao gave the hosts the lead before Pedri equalised with a fine individual goal.

Aubameyang's 49th-minute winner sent Barca into Friday's quarter-final draw.

Barca ran down the clock, infuriating the home crowd who started throwing bottles and plastic cups onto the field and the referee stopped the game for a few minutes while the Galatasaray players tried to calm things down.

Aubameyang, 32, joined Barcelona on a free transfer in February after four years at Arsenal and the Gabon forward has been an impressive signing.

Xavi's side had dropped into the Europa League after finishing third during the group stage of the Champions League, behind Bayern Munich and Benfica.

March 11, 2022

March 11, 2022 IFMSPORTS

West Ham Edged Out At Sevilla

West Ham’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League hang in the balance after they fell to a narrow defeat at Sevilla in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Munir El Haddadi scored the game’s only goal for the six-time winners, sweeping in superbly from Marcos Acuna’s free-kick on the hour mark.

Until that point David Moyes’ West Ham side had more than held their own in their first knockout tie in a major European competition since 1981.

Nikola Vlasic headed an early opportunity straight at Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Michail Antonio then missing his kick with the follow up from close range.

Croatian forward Vlasic also saw Bounou tip a low driven effort around the post with Tomas Soucek also testing the home goalkeeper and Manuel Lanzini seeing his close-range effort blocked as the Hammers tried to breach the meanest defence in La Liga.

An end-to-end affair also saw the hosts create several openings of note with Munir heading wide from Jesus Corona’s cross, Youssef En-Nesyri going close and Lucas Ocampos flashing an effort across the face of the West Ham goal.

Barcelona Frustrated By Stubborn Galatasaray

Barcelona were held to a goalless draw by Galatasaray in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

Frenkie de Jong went closest for the La Liga side when he struck the post in the second half from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s overhead kick.

Former Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis thought he had earned the visitors an unlikely late win but his sublime finish was ruled out for offside.

Memphis Depay twice went close to giving Xavi’s side a first-half lead.

The Dutchman’s curling free-kick was saved by Galatasaray goalkeeper Inaki Pena, before Depay was denied again by the Barcelona loanee with a low drive that was heading for the far corner.

Jordi Alba also sent a first-time effort inches wide of the far post as Galatasaray held on to keep the tie level ahead of next week’s second leg in Turkey.

FIFA Says Foreign Players Can Suspend Contracts With Russian Clubs

Foreign footballers playing in Russia can suspend their contracts and temporarily leave the country.

Fifa made the announcement as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russian football clubs and national teams were last week suspended from all competitions “until further notice” by Fifa and Uefa.

“Fifa would like to reiterate its condemnation of the ongoing use of force by Russia in Ukraine,” it said.

In the statement, the world governing body added: “Foreign players and coaches will have the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contracts with the clubs in question until the end of the season in Russia (30 June 2022).

“Players and coaches will be considered out of contract until 30 June 2022 and will therefore be at liberty to sign a contract with another club without facing consequences of any kind.”

Fifpro, the players’ union, said the measures didn’t go far enough.

“While some measures adopted today are helpful amendments, the decision to allow foreign players to only suspend their contracts and thus only temporarily leave Russian clubs is too timid.

“It will be hard for players to find employment for the remainder of the season with uncertainty looming over them and, within a few weeks, they will be in a very difficult situation once again.

“These players should be allowed to terminate their contracts.”

The Russian Football Union said it will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to appeal against its ban from international competitions.

Russian side Spartak Moscow have been kicked out of the Europa League and the 2022 Champions League final, originally due to be played in St Petersburg on 28 May, has been moved to Paris.

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Tag: Europa League

Aubameyang Winner Sends Barcelona Into Europa League Quarter-Finals

West Ham Edged Out At Sevilla

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Barcelona Frustrated By Stubborn Galatasaray

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FIFA Says Foreign Players Can Suspend Contracts With Russian Clubs

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