The quarter-finals of the 2023-2024 Europa League were completed on Friday (19/04). As is the case in this new Champions League, English teams ran aground and did not send representatives in the semifinals.
Liverpool is one of them. The Reds won 1-0 at Atalanta headquarters, Gewiss Stadium, through Mohamed Salah’s penalty goal (7′) early in the match. However, La Dea—Atalanta’s nickname—defended solidly, and Liverpool was inefficient in converting chances.
71 percent possession with a record 10 kicks (five on target) did not result in goals (one penalty goal). Atalanta chose to keep the lead after previously, unexpectedly, winning 3-0 at Anfield.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta qualified for the semi-finals with an aggregate of 3-1 goals. The other English team to be eliminated was West Ham United. The Hammers lost 1-3 on aggregate against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in all competitions and recent Bundesliga champions.
Liverpool’s fate also happened to AC Milan, the second team with the most Champions League trophies (seven). The Rossoneri were eliminated by fellow Italian side AS Roma on a 1-3 goal aggregate.
After losing 0-1 at the San Siro in the first leg, Stefano Pioli’s team lost again in the second leg played at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma won 2-1 through goals from Gianluca Mancini (12′) and Paulo Dybala (22′) which was minimised by Matteo Gabbia’s goal (85′).
Milan was also unable to capitalize on their numerical advantage when Mehmet Zeki Celik was sent off in the 31st minute. As a result, two Italian representatives are in the Europa League semi-finals this season. Here are the full results of the second leg of the quarter-finals.
AS Roma 2-1 AC Milan (3-1 goal aggregate).
Olympique Marseille 1-0 Benfica (goal aggregate 2-2, Marseille won on penalties 4-2).
West Ham United 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen (goal aggregate 1-3).
Atalanta 0-1 Liverpool (goal aggregate 3-1).