Europa League:

Europa League: Quarter-finals today from 9pm LIVE

Leverkusen continue to celebrate, while Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool are out.

(Bild: ap,)

Four days after being crowned champions, Leverkusen prevented their first defeat of the season late on and can continue to dream of the treble. The newly crowned German soccer champions drew 1-1 away to West Ham in the Europa League on Thursday and qualified for the semi-finals after a 2-0 win in the first leg. Liverpool missed out on the comeback they were aiming for and were eliminated with an aggregate score of 1-3 despite a 1-0 away win at Atalanta Bergamo.

Leverkusen will face AS Roma in the semi-finals, who defeated AC Milan 2:1 at home in the Italian clash. The Romans also won the first leg 1:0. Atalanta will face Olympique Marseille or Benfica Lisbon. This clash went into extra time with the French side winning 1:0 (first leg 1:2).

(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Four days after their masterpiece, Leverkusen were partially overrun by West Ham in the first half. A cross from Jarrod Bowen was headed into the net by Michail Antonio for a deserved lead (13'), but the superior Hammers were unable to score any further goals. After the break, the game was evenly poised and Leverkusen created their first chances. Florian Wirtz failed to hit the ball properly with a direct shot (51') and Jeremie Frimpong failed to score from an acute angle (66').

As so often this season, Leverkusen scored late on. A deflected shot from Frimpong averted the first defeat of the season (89). Coach Xabi Alonso's team thus remained undefeated for the 44th consecutive competitive match and set a new record for the top five leagues in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. No other team has managed such a streak so far this millennium.

(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Liverpool out despite dream start
Liverpool got off to a perfect start on the road to the comeback they were aiming for. Mohamed Salah confidently converted a penalty in the 7th minute. The Reds then kept the pressure on and were clearly the more dangerous team. Salah missed a great chance to make it 2:0 with a lobbed shot (40'). Atalanta got into the game better after the break. The Italians kept Liverpool away from their own goal for the most part and created chances themselves through Ederson (50) and Teun Koopmeiners (60).

The Reds lacked ideas and pace, Atalanta managed the result without any problems. Jürgen Klopp's last European Cup appearance in the Liverpool dugout ended in disappointment.

(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Roma knock Milan out
In the Italian clash, Roma made everything clear in the first half after winning the first leg 1:0. Gianluca Mancini dusted off the ball to take an early lead (12') and Paulo Dybala flicked the ball into the far corner (22'). However, coach Daniele De Rossi's team then weakened themselves. Zeki Celik was sent off after a foul (32'). Milan were unable to capitalize on their 60-minute superiority for a long time. Matteo Gabbia's final goal (86') came too late. Milan's elimination means that their title-less season is a virtual certainty.

Quarter-final second legs:

Atalanta Bergamo - Liverpool 0:1 (0:1)
Goal: Salah (7th/manual penalty)
First leg: 3:0 - Atalanta reach the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 3:1

West Ham - Bayer Leverkusen 1:1 (1:0)
Goals: Antonio (13) and Frimpong (89).)
First leg: 0:2 - Leverkusen with an aggregate score of 3:1 in the semifinals

 AS Roma - AC Milan 2:1 (2:0)
Goals: Mancini (12.), Dybala (22.) and Gabbia (85.)
First leg: 1:0 - Roma with an aggregate score of 3:1 in the semifinals

Olympique Marseille - Benfica Lisbon 4:2 n.E. (1:0 n.V.,1:0,0:0)
Goal: Moumbagna (79.)
First leg 1:2 - Marseille in the semifinals after penalty shootout

Semifinal: 
Marseille - Atalanta 
Roma - Leverkusen 

Match dates: First leg May 2, second leg May 9