Category: Football

Liverpool’s hopes of a historic treble were dashed on Thursday as they were eliminated from the Europa League despite a 1-0 victory over Atalanta in the second leg of their quarterfinal matchup. The result ended Liverpool’s chances of winning three trophies in manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield.

In Bergamo, Liverpool had a dream start when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross hit Matteo Ruggeri’s hand, resulting in a penalty. Mohamed Salah converted the spot-kick in the seventh minute, giving Liverpool an early lead. However, the Reds failed to capitalize on any other chances, falling short of their 5-0 win over Atalanta in the Champions League in 2020.

Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen remained on course for a historic treble by holding West Ham to a 1-1 draw at London Stadium. Xabi Alonso’s team advanced to the semifinals 3-1 on aggregate, setting up a clash with Roma in the last four.

In Rome, Roma coach Daniele De Rossi marked an extension of his contract announced earlier Thursday by reaching the last four with his team reduced to 10 men. Gianluca Mancini and Paulo Dybala scored for Roma, while Milan’s Matteo Gabbia netted a consolation goal.

With the English League Cup already secured, Liverpool still hopes for a second Premier League title under Klopp but is now in third and two points adrift of first-place Manchester City. Atalanta, despite its inconsistent Serie A form, has been shining in the Europa League, reaching the semifinals for only the second time.

In the Europa Conference League, Aston Villa advanced to the semifinals after a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Lille. Emiliano Martínez saved two spot kicks, and Douglas Luiz converted the decisive penalty. Villa will face Olympiakos in the semifinals, while Fiorentina and Club Brugge will meet in the other semifinal.

Atalanta’s historic European journey continued as they secured a place in the Europa League semifinals despite a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Thursday. The Serie A side’s 3-0 triumph in the first leg at Anfield proved decisive, as they held on to a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Liverpool, seeking a fairytale ending to manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season, started brightly and took the lead through Mohamed Salah’s penalty in the seventh minute. However, Atalanta’s resolute defense and tactical discipline prevented the Reds from mounting a significant comeback.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, playing in their biggest game in club history, absorbed Liverpool’s pressure and created several chances of their own. Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel both came close to extending Atalanta’s lead, but their efforts were thwarted by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

In the second half, Liverpool continued to dominate possession but struggled to break down Atalanta’s compact defense. The Italian side’s counter-attacking threat remained potent, and they could have sealed the tie with a second goal on several occasions.

As the game entered its final stages, Liverpool threw everything forward in search of an equalizer. However, Atalanta’s defense held firm, and they secured a famous victory that sent them into the semifinals for the first time in their history.

Meanwhile, newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen also reached the semifinals, but they were pushed to the limit by West Ham United. The German side drew 1-1 away at the London Stadium, but their 3-1 aggregate victory ensured their progression.

Xabi Alonso’s team trailed to Michail Antonio’s early header and looked shaky in the first half. However, they improved dramatically after the break and squandered numerous opportunities before Jeremie Frimpong’s deflected shot found the net in the 89th minute.

Despite their below-par performance, Leverkusen extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 39 games and remain on course for a treble.