Lyon are classified for the round of 16 of the Europa League. This Thursday, the French team beat Sparta Praga by 3-0, at Groupama Stadium, kept 100% in the tournament and guaranteed a place in the next phase with two rounds in advance.
Playing at home, Lyon took the field with a mixed team, saving some of their main players. The Brazilians Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Guimarães and the Cameroonian Toko Ekambi, usually starting the match, started the match on the bench.
Even with an alternative team, the home owners were dominant. In the first half, Shaqiri and Slimani wasted great chances inside the area.
In the second stage, Slimani became disenchanted. On minute 15, the Algerian received a great stride from Cherki, invaded the area, dribbled goalkeeper Nita and opened the scoring. Two minutes later, the 20 shirt took advantage of Caqueret’s cross from the right, rose more than Sparta Praga’s defense and headed in to widen.
In stoppage time, Toko Ekambi, who entered during the second half, still had time to score with a header. The center forward is the top scorer in the Europa League, now with six goals in four games.
With the triumph, Lyon reached 12 points and isolated themselves further in the leadership of Group A of the Europa League. Sparta Praga, meanwhile, remain on four points, but were overtaken on goal difference by Rangers, who drew 1-1 with Brondby, and dropped to third.
Napoli wins at a comeback and assumes leadership of Group C
Also on Thursday, Napoli beat Legia Warsaw 4-1 in Poland, in the fourth round of the Europa League group stage. The result left the Italian club at the top of Group C.
In the first half, Mahir Emreli opened the scoring for the hosts. In the second stage, Napoli turned with Zielinski and Mertens, both taking a penalty. Lozano and Adam Ounas ensured the rout.
With the victory, Napoli reached seven points and overtook Legia Warsaw, who have six. Leicester and Spartak Moscow complete Group C.
Check out the results of the Europa League games at 2:45 pm (GMT) this Thursday:
Olympiakos 1 x 2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Royal Society 1 x 1 Sturm Graz
Brondby 1 x 1 Ragners
Genk 2 x 2 West Ham
Lyon 3 x 0 Sparta Praga
Monaco 0 x 0 PSV
Galatasaray 1 x 1 Lokomotiv Moscow
Legia Warsaw 1 x 4 Napoli
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