Summary

  • Man Utd score three second-half goals to beat Real Betis 4-1 in their Europa League last 16 first-leg game

  • Arsenal draw 2-2 with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal in the Europa League last 16 first leg

  • West Ham cruise to a 2-0 win over Larnaca in the Europa Conference last 16 first leg

  1. Bye!published at 22:45 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    That's all from me tonight.

    Manchester United are one of eight teams back in action on Sunday when they host Premier League strugglers Southampton at Old Trafford (14:00 GMT kick-off).

    There's six Premier League matches on Saturday too.

    See you then.

  2. A recap of tonight's reportspublished at 22:41 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    Manchester United responded to their Anfield humiliation in the best manner possible as they overwhelmed Real Betis at Old Trafford.

    Arsenal must "improve massively" if they are to continue winning games, said manager Mikel Arteta after the Gunners were held by Sporting Lisbon in their entertaining Europa League last-16 first leg.

    Meanwhile, West Ham took a big step towards the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League with a comfortable first-leg victory at AEK Larnaca.

  3. 'Fernandes was dictating play'published at 22:38 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-1 Real Betis

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes on BT Sport: "It showed great character tonight. They started the game really well but had a little sticky spell just before half-time.

    "Second half, I thought they were fantastic, with Bruno Fernandes dictating play in the centre of the pitch."

  4. 'You have to be calm'published at 22:36 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Real Betis manager Manuel Pelligrini: "We competed very well in the first-half. It was a great goal from Antony and the corner finished the game off.

    "They were superior towards the end of the game. They could have scored a couple more. The game was decided in five minutes.

    "The first-half was even. Once they scored that great goal from Antony - after those two goals - we weren’t the team we normally are.

    "Once they had a two-goal advantage their confidence went up and up.

    "I don’t think a knockout game is ever over. It won’t be easy. We will try. You have to be calm to try and overcome this situation. There is a big margin but we will give all we can in the second leg."

  5. Feeling at homepublished at 22:33 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-1 Real Betis

    .Image source, Getty Images/BBC Sport
  6. 'We gave fans something to support'published at 22:28 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    Manchester United

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag speaking on BT Sport: "I think we played a very good game in both halves. At half-time we should have been up 3-0 but we make one mistake it is 1-1.

    "We scored some good goals, we gave the fans something to support and they gave it back so we are very grateful.

    "It was a great attitude, we were good on the ball, made good switches and runs in behind and created a lot of chances.

    "It is always good to see how the team reacts after a set-back. This is not the first time this season we can reset and bounce back. This team has character, so big compliment to the team."

    On Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes: "For a striker [Wout Weghorst] was so close so many times. He has already created chances and goals for others and he deserved his goal.

    "Bruno [Fernandes] was fantastic. He led the team with his control of the game and passing and then he scored a goal."

    On the substitutions: "I think the substitutes made a good impact, and you see when we made the last two we made it 4-1."

  7. 'Tie is not over' - Pellegrinipublished at 22:26 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini has been speaking in his post-match press conference.

    He accepts it will not be easy to overturn the scoreline in the second leg next week but he is not giving up.

    "I don’t think a knockout game is ever over," he said. "It won’t be easy. We will try.

    "Once it went to 3-1, there was only one team on the pitch."

  8. 'This team has character'published at 22:23 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-1 Real Betis

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Erik ten Hag is understandably pleased with tonight's response from his side. He says "it is not the first time this season" they have had to fight back from disappointment.

    "This team has character," he adds, before saying captain Bruno Fernandes was "fantastic".

    More to follow.

  9. Postpublished at 22:20 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-1 Real Betis

    Manchester United are unbeaten in eight matches in Europe (W7 D1), their longest unbeaten run in European competition since an 11-game stretch between November 2016 and May 2017 that culminated with them winning the Europa League.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  10. 'We didn't cope with second half'published at 22:16 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-1 Real Betis

    Real Betis goalscorer Ayoze Perez: "This is tough to explain - particularly after the first half we produced against a top side like United.

    "We needed to want the ball more, to keep it better because, with that, you have United in their own half and you can tighten the screw.

    "Their goal to make it 2-1 was very good but all the others were avoidable, from our point of view.

    "We came here with the idea of winning firmly in our heads. In the first half, we coped with their early pressure before equalising and then creating other chances to score.

    "It's very frustrating. We knew that United's first 15 minutes of each half would be intense – but we didn't cope with the second one.

    "United's second goal probably took the wind out of our sails a little and we didn't react well enough. It doesn't leave us with a good feeling. However, at home, in front of our great fans, absolutely anything can happen."

  11. 'Ugly scenes with Betis fans'published at 22:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    Steve Crossman
    BBC Radio 5 live at Old Trafford

    We saw some ugly scenes away to our right-hand side earlier with Real Betis fans jumping towards stewards who managed to hold them back before riot police came in.

  12. A man in formpublished at 22:11 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-1 Real Betis

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Marcus Rashford has scored 26 goals in all competitions this season.

    That's the third most of any player from Europe's top five leagues after Erling Haaland (33) and Kylian Mbappé (30).

  13. 'It is a step back in the right direction'published at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    Manchester United

    Manchester United goalscorer Marcus Rashford speaking to BT Sport: "It is always important to win the next fixture after a loss it is the only way to bounce back and continue to the momentum we had before the game.

    "We always try to start quick and a goal always helps that and I think thye defended the box well in the first half but in the second half it opened up more as to be expected with the game at 1-1.

    "We started well in both halves, and yeah it is important to try and score the goals and that is the difference."

    On Wout Weghorst's first goal for Manchester United: "As a forward he gets joys from scoring goals and he works hard and does all the other stuff but he wants to score goals."

    On if it is the best response to the Liverpool loss: "It is a step back in the right direction we have to build on it now again but we can't put too much emphasis on Sunday because it is gone and we can't change it so we have to keep moving forward."

  14. 'It was a great reaction to the weekend'published at 22:06 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    Leon Osman
    Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    They deserved this victory Manchester United. It was a great reaction to the weekend's embarrassment at Anfield and you couldn't ask for much more from them.

    They will be delighted to take a 4-1 scoreline to Spain for the second leg.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:03 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate), or text your comments via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    PJ: Good bounce back victory tonight! Some brilliant goals as well while playing some good football!

    A.J. Vergette: Three goal cushion and a busy schedule ahead - I'd absolutely consider starting Pellistri in the coming games. What a cameo!

    Eteyen: What I enjoyed most was the joy on Wout's face after scoring that goal. That looks like what I imagine scoring for a club you love must feel like, and I'm here for it.

  16. 'That is how you want Man Utd to play'published at 22:01 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 3-1 Real Betis

    Rene Meulensteen
    Former Manchester United coach on BBC Radio 5 live

    Very good second-half. That is how you want Manchester United to play, there was a lot of threat and they nullified everything Real Betis had.

    4-1 is a really great result. It doesn't take a lot away from last Sunday's defeat but there is no better medicine than to win in the way they did tonight.

  17. Elsewhere in Europe...published at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    It's full-time in the other matches too so Juventus finish with a 1-0 win over SC Freiburg, while Sevilla see off Fenerbahce 2-0.

    Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord drew 1-1.

    Earlier, Arsenal drew 2-2 at Sporting Lisbon, while West Ham were comfortable 2-0 winners at AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League.

  18. Postpublished at 21:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    FT: Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    A big celebration from Wout Weghorst.

    .Image source, Getty Images
    .Image source, Getty Images
    .Image source, Getty Images
  19. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    A deserved win for Manchester United who were excellent in the second half.

    They have a comfortable three-goal lead to take with them to Spain for the second leg. One big foot in the quarter-finals.

    Manchester United celebrateImage source, Reuters
  20. Postpublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2023

    Man Utd 4-1 Real Betis

    Leon Osman
    Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

    When they are positive like that Manchester United are so hard to stop. Casemiro plays an eye of the needle pass to Bruno Fernandes who in turns finds Facundo Pellistri and his shot has to be saved by Claudio Bravo.