Europa League

AC Milan Marches On: Rossoneri Reach Europa League Round of 16 Despite Rennes Scare

February 23, 2024

Despite a thrilling 3-2 loss in the second leg, AC Milan secured their place in the Europa League round of 16 thanks to a 5-3 aggregate victory over Rennes. The Italian giants, seven-time European champions, still seek their first title in this competition, and their journey continues.

Midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud’s hat-trick for Rennes threatened to derail Milan’s progress, but the Rossoneri responded with goals from Luka Jović and Rafael Leão. However, Bourigeaud’s penalty prowess kept Rennes in the fight.

Milan joins fellow Serie A sides Roma and Lazio in the next round, while Napoli’s Champions League ambitions remain alive. The draw for the round of 16 takes place on Friday, with English Premier League giants Liverpool, West Ham, and Brighton also in the mix.

Elsewhere in the Europa League, Marseille under new coach Jean-Louis Gasset saw off Shakhtar Donetsk, while Sporting Lisbon and Benfica edged through against Young Boys and Toulouse respectively. Freiburg staged a dramatic comeback against Lens, while Sparta Prague caused a major upset by eliminating Galatasaray.

In the Europa Conference League, Dinamo Zagreb held off Real Betis, Union Saint-Gilloise surprised Eintracht Frankfurt, and Molde, Sturm Graz, and Olympiacos cruised into the next round. Ajax needed extra time to overcome Bodø/Glimt, while Maccabi Haifa also progressed.

With the knockout stages heating up, AC Milan and the other Italian contenders aim to bring European glory back to Serie A. Stay tuned for the draw and follow their exciting journey in the Europa League and Conference League!