Europa League football is back! The Round of 32 is underway as Feyenoord take on Roma. Tonight I, Isabelle Newnham, will take you through all the action with minute-by-minute updates LIVE as well as key updates from the other three games kicking off at 17:45. These are Galatasaray vs Sparta Prague, Shakhtar Donetsk vs Marseille, and Young Boys vs Sporting CP. The race to the Round of 16 is on!
The scene is set:
— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) February 15, 2024
The starting line-ups are out, take a look:
Feyenoord starting XI vs Roma pic.twitter.com/uPssZlY4Fz
— Isabelle Newnham (@inmrjournalist) February 15, 2024
Roma starting XI vs Feyenoord pic.twitter.com/BKYWtILf4w
— Isabelle Newnham (@inmrjournalist) February 15, 2024
Feyenoord 1-1 Roma – AS IT HAPPENED:
1′: We are underway in Rotterdam. A big day for away manager Daniele De Rossi as this is his first game in charge in Europe. He’ll be hoping for a positive result to return home with.
2′: Leonardo Spinazzola playing a slightly sloppy pass to Mile Svilar but he deals with it effectively enough by clearing the ball away for a Feyenoord throw-in.
4′: Feyenoord lose the ball cheaply but immediately apply a high press, stopping Roma from escaping their defensive third.
6′: Clumsy from Gianluca Mancini as he concedes a free-kick for fouling Igor Paixao. Roma straight back in possession though as they earn a free kick of their own.
8′: Paulo Dybala drives towards the box before laying the ball off to Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker held the ball up well and set the ball up nicely for Edoardo Bove, he took aim but the shot was blocked. Corner for Roma.
10′: Header cleared off the line. Dybala is the creator again as he slots Lorenzo Pellegrini through on goal, he took it around the keeper but Timon Wellenreuther dived and stopped Pellegrini in his tracks. The ball then broke for Bove but his left-footed effort was headed off the line. Roma are beginning to build some momentum.
Embed from Getty Images13′: Feyenoord are trying to get a hold of the game. They break forwards in numbers but Calvin Stengs is under pressure as he gets the shot away causing it to lose power. They’ve won a corner though
14′: Romelu Lukaku has been fouled by Thomas Beelen in a good area, the Dutchman dragged Lukaku down and has received a yellow card. Pellegrini takes the free kick but can only find the top of the Feyenoord wall.
17′: Good delivery from Dybala to find Lukaku but his downward header is straight at Wellenreuther. That’s been his first good chance this evening. Only João Pedro has scored more goals than his in the Europa League this season, he’ll be looking to join him at the top of the goal-scoring rankings tonight.
21′: So close from Mats Wieffer. Nicola Zalewski got caught in possession for doing one skill too many in the middle of the park. Stengs rushes forward and quickly finds Wiefer who weaves his way through the Roma defence, but his shot just creeps just wide of the far post. Agonisingly close.
22′: Elsewhere in Europe – Kerem Demirbay puts Galatasaray ahead vs Sparta Prague.
26′: What is Zalewski doing?! The 22-year-old was through on goal with a shot clearly on but he decides to square it to Lukaku. However the pass is poor and Feyenoord easily clear. He had to shoot there.
27′: Yankuba Minteh rolls the ball to Rick Karsdorp who delivers an in-swinging cross. He found Paixao who didn’t know much about it and his prodded effort is straight at Svilar.
31′: Roma have had a good few chances but haven’t been able to take them, now when they go forward Feyenoord have all their players behind the ball.
32′: Elsewhere in Europe – Sporting CP take the lead against Young Boys as Aurele Amenda scores an own goal.
35′: Yellow card for Minteh for supposedly hitting Zalewski in the face. The referee initially didn’t give the foul but pulled it back after the fourth official believed it was cynical. After looking at the replay there’s nothing wrong with what Minteh did and that’s a harsh booking.
37′: Wieffer has a shot from distance, but his low-driven effort is well wide.
40′: Unbelievable safe from Wellenreuther! Fingertip save from the German to keep it level. Leandro Paredes goes for the spectacular from range and it was dipping in. Wellenreuther forces the swerving effort onto the crossbar. That’s the best chance so far.
41′: Elsewhere in Europe – Viktor Gyokeres doubles Sporting’s lead from the penalty spot.
Embed from Getty Images43′: Elsewhere in Europe – Immediate reponse from Young Boys as Filip Ugrinic halves the deficit.
45′: Dybala wins the corner and will take it. His out-swinging cross find Lukaku who escaped his marker. The header is powerful but straight at Wellenreuther again. The fourth official has indicated there will be four minutes of additional time.
45+1′: GOALLLLL FOR FEYENOORD! Feyenoord break the deadlock right on the stroke of half time. David Hancko nudges the ball out to Quilindschy Hartman on the left flank. He plays a perfect cross into Paixao who’s all on his own in the box. Horrific defending from Roma, nobody was marking the Brazilian but it shouldn’t take away from the the goal. Superb header! Feyenoord 1-0 Roma.
Embed from Getty ImagesHT: The first half is concluded by Paixao’s header, a great time to score for Feyenoord who now have the advantage in the tie. Roma have had chances but haven’t taken them and a horror show at the back sees them a goal down at the interval.
As it stands in the Europa League:
⏸️ HALF-TIME ⏸️
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 15, 2024
Feyenoord, Galatasaray and Sporting CP lead at the break.#UEL
45′: We are back for the second half and Feyenoord have a great opportunity as Ayase Ueda wins a free kick on the edge of the box.
47′: Missed opportunity as the free kick is blocked by Bove. The attempt from Ueda’s was so powerful that Bove required medical attention before getting back on his feet.
47′: Elsewhere in Europe – Angelo Preciado scores as Sparta Prague equalise vs Galatasaray.
48′: Elsewhere in Europe – Sporting regain the two-goal advantage. Goncalo Inacio is the goalscorer.
Embed from Getty Images52′: Dybala has possession on the left wing and takes a shot from the edge of the box, but his effort curls off target.
54′: Another half chance for Lukaku but his header goes over the bar. The chipped cross from Spinazzola was too high meaning the Belgian couldn’t get enough power or direction on the header. Roma have had a lot of the ball in the last few minutes but still no goal.
56′: Despite a poor pass from Dybala, Karsdorp breaks down the right wing with the ball. His cross finds Zalewski but the header is well wide.
61′: Elsewhere in Europe – Galatasaray take the lead again, goalscorer is Dries Mertens. There is hope for Sparta Prague though as Victor Nelsson has just been sent off. The home side are down to 10 men.
63′: Double substitution for Feyenoord: Ueda makes way for star striker Santiago Gimenez and Minteh is replaced by Ondrej Lingr. Roma also have made a change. Stephen El Shaarawy comes on for Zalewski.
64′: Elsewhere in Europe – Marseille are ahead, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang breaks the deadlock.
65′: Elsewhere in Europe – Jan Kuchta equalises for Sparta Prague. It’s 2-2 now.
67′: GOALLLL FOR ROMA! Lukaku equalises and becomes joint top goal-scorer in the Europa League. Spinazzola collects the ball on the left and whips a low cross into a good area. Lukaku ducks down and heads the ball across goal. There’s no saving that! Feyenoord 1-1 Roma.
Embed from Getty Images68′: Elsewhere in Europe – Shakhtar Donetsk equalise in a matter of minutes. Mykola Matviyenko scored.
71′: Luka Ivanusec has been brought on for Stengs, this is only the Croatian’s second European appearance for Feyenoord.
73′: Gimenez goes for the acrobatic attempt but is blocked by Diego Llorente. Feyenoord haven’t been affected much by conceding, they are still bursting forward with purpose. It’s anyone’s game right now.
75′: Svilar punts the ball up the pitch and fins Lukaku who flicks is towards Dybala. The ball heads towards Wellenreuther but his pass back out to Hancko is below par, forcing the captain to clear his lines.
79′: Feyenoord have made two more changes. Givario Read comes on for his official debut:
80′: Elsewhere is Europe – Matej Rynes is sent off for Sparta Prague. Both sides are now down to 10 men.
81′: Sub for Roma. Former Feyenoord man Karsdorp makes way for Zeki Celik.
84′: The noise from the fans has picked back up after a few fouls from Roma. They dropped off after Lukaku’s equaliser but the atmosphere is back and the Stadion Feijenoord is rocking.
86′: Bove is shown a yellow card and will miss the home leg next week. Moments later he’s brought off as Roma make a double substitution. Talk about unlucky timing.
89′: Great strike from Gimenez but he’s denied by Svilar. A superb strike that will surely leave the Roma keeper with a bruise tomorrow morning.
89′: Elsewhere in Europe – It’s a red card for Young Boys’ Mohamed Aly Camara.
Embed from Getty Images90′: There will be seven minutes of added time. Still time for a winner. Feyenoord have been much stronger in the last 15 minutes, enjoying 88.5% possession.
90+1′: Elsewhere in Europe – It’s 2-1 Marseille, Iliman Ndiaye win what could be the winner.
90+1′: The post saves Roma! So close from Ivanusec. He looked like he was going for a cross from the wide free kick but goes for goal instead. Svilar scrambled towards the ball and luckily for him, the woodwork prevented a certain goal.
90+1′ : Elsewhere in Europe – Mauro Icardi makes it 3-2 Galatasaray right at the death.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!
— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) February 15, 2024
MAURO ICARDI!!!
Galatasaray 3-2 AC Sparta Prag#GSvACS #UEL pic.twitter.com/BAdAFikZfP
90+3′: A draw looks to be a positive result for Roma at the moment, their defending is looking more and more desperate by the minute.
90+3′: Elsewhere in Europe – I don’t believe it! Eguinaldo has equalised for Shakhtar, 2-2 now.
90+7′: Roma are on the attack for the first time in a while and could sucker punch Feyenoord with a goal here. Celik collects it but his pass is too heavy and Feyenoord have a goal kick. I think that’s it, the referee has blown the final whistle. Feyenoord 1-1 Roma
FT: It’s all square in Rotterdam, setting the return leg in Rome up to be a real nail-biter. Paixao put Feyenoord ahead at the end of the first half with Roma only having themselves to blame. Lukaku equalised in the 67th minute but it wasn’t enough to shift the game’s momentum. Feyenoord were pushing for a winner but have to settle for a draw as Roma’s defence held firm. That’s all from me, thanks for following along. Goodnight!
Embed from Getty Images
