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EUROPEAN FOOTBALL WRAP: FA Cup magic as Man United down Liverpool, Leverkusen extend historic run and more!

Manchester United sealed a dramatic extra-time win over bitter rivals Liverpool, while Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen extended their historic run.

Scott McTominay of Manchester United celebrates scoring the 1-0 goal during the FA Cup quarter-final soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Manchester United sealed a dramatic extra-time win over bitter rivals Liverpool, while Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen extended their historic run.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Ten Hag thrown lifeline by inspired United performance

This weekend’s FA Cup action had a little bit of everything. Coventry gave us those ‘Magic of the FA Cup’ goosebumps with some last-minute heroics against Wolves. City continued their crazy quest for back-to-back trebles with a solid victory over Newcastle. And Chelsea showed a fair degree of bottle to shake off a resilient Leicester and book yet another Wembley showdown. But the best was saved for last, as Man United turned back the hands of time to pull off a Fergie-era victory against Klopp’s Liverpool.

I don’t even know where to start with this match. It felt like the midfield area was declared a no-fly zone, with both sides absorbed into frenetic basketball-style action. United started the game well and deservedly took the lead through the poaching instincts of Scott McTominay. But Liverpool started to dictate proceedings and it was little surprise that they went to half-time with a slender 2-1 lead. And Liverpool really should have put the game to bed in the 2nd stanza, failing to capitalise on several attacking overloads (Darwin Nunez certainly didn’t look at his clinical best).

I know there will be Liverpool fans out there who are critical of Klopp’s decision to yank Salah with the match evenly balanced at 2-1. But the Scousers were so in charge at that point that you probably would have felt confident putting one of the U12s out there. But Ten Hag’s substitutions were the ones that really changed the game.

The much-maligned Antony and the underplayed Diallo were just too quick for a Liverpool side that started to show the wear and tear of their insane schedule. Also, Harry Maguire came on and actually gave the side surprising attacking impetus. This isn’t the time for Klopp to be doubted. They already have one trophy in the cabinet and sit pretty atop the Premier League (not to mention their tremendous Europa League form). But you do wonder how this result could affect the aura of invincibility that they have recently cultivated. As for United, this result could not have come at a better time. They have drawn Coventry in the semi-finals and now Ten Hag has a realistic chance of winning domestic cups in successive campaigns.

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Bayer Leverkusen create more history

Bayer Leverkusen are charging towards this year’s Bundesliga title with the steely determination and ruthlessness of Bayern Munich in their pomp. They beat a gallant SC Freiburg side 3-2 this weekend, maintaining their ten-point lead over Thomas Tuchel’s misfiring Bayern Munich side. Imagine someone had told you that Bayern Munich would acquire the services of Harry Kane in the summer and he would go on to produce record-breaking goal-scoring feats.

Then imagine that they told you Bayern would trail ‘Bayer Never-kusen’ at this stage of the season. It would seem unfathomable. 20-year-old German attacker Florian Wirtz was exceptional this weekend and he could prove pivotal in Germany’s upcoming Euros. Bayern have now won 22 of 26 Bundesliga matches (a record) and they are still the only unbeaten side in all of European football. For their part, Bayern ran riot at Darmstadt, coming from a goal down to easily see off the basement dwellers 5-2.

Jamal Musiala- who is the subject of pretty open attention from the likes of City and Liverpool – scored a brace as the Bavarian giants took their goal tally to 13 in their last two domestic matches. Harry Kane scored yet again but was forced off the field with a minor niggle, meaning he will probably miss England’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.

Real cruise to victory

I really thought that Real Madrid were going to be the only Spanish club competing in the latter stages of this season’s Champions League. But Spanish football came back from the dead last week, with Barcelona and Atletico reenergizing their respective campaigns with massive European wins over Napoli and Inter Milan. Los Blancos will face Man City in an epic quarterfinal clash and they looked fairly comfortable this weekend, seeing off Osasuna 4-2 without the services of Jude Bellingham. It was a performance that highlighted both the best and worst of this swashbuckling Real side.

They- like City- look vulnerable on the counterattack but they luckily have enough firepower to mitigate such issues. Vinicius Jr was once against sensational, scoring two goals and providing nuisance value throughout. But it was Barcelona who stole the Spanish headlines this weekend, soundly beating Atletico in their trip to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. Xavi’s decision to preempt his departure seems to have loosened the shackles on this enterprising, dynamic side. Robert Lewandowski was back to his best this weekend while Ilkay Gundogan absolutely controlled the middle of the park.

Inter held by Napoli in Italian stalemate

The supposed ‘blockbuster’ encounter between inevitable champions Inter and reigning champions Napoli turned out to be little more than a damp squib, with Napoli scoring late to rescue a meaningless 1-1 draw. It probably wasn’t too surprising after both sides were unceremoniously dumped out of Europe midweek. I was really surprised with how poor Inter have been this past week.

They seem to have lost all of their dynamism, reverting back to type as a dour, defensively-minded Italian side. To make matters worse, it was ex-defender Juan Jesus who capped off an awful week for Inter by scoring the equalizer. Juventus’ 0-0 draw with Genoa really epitomized what they have become under Max Allegri. They were absolutely toothless and Vlahovic was involved in a verbal sparring match with Allegri after he was sent off for a second booking. For their part, AC Milan at least provided some excitement with an entertaining 3-1 win at Verona. Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze was a huge bright spark for the Rossoneri, creating havoc and scoring his maiden goal for the Italian giants.

Player of the Week- Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski has really started to look like his old self of late, scoring goals and linking every aspect of Barca’s attacking play. He was sensational at Atletico, scoring a goal-of-the-season contender and providing two assists to underline his status as one of the best forward players of his generation. His vast experience could prove a difference-maker as Barca go in search of one of the most unlikely European crowns.

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