Summary

  • Use audio at the top of page to listen to live commentary

  • FT: Arsenal 1-1 Sporting Lisbon - (3-3 agg) - Xhaka opens scoring

  • Goncalves scores equaliser from just inside Arsenal half

  • Martinelli penalty saved as Arsenal knocked out after shootout

  • FT: Europa Conference League: West Ham 4-0 AEK Larnaca - (6-0 agg) Scamacca, Bowen (2) & Mubama score

  • FT: Real Betis 0-1 Man United (1-5 agg)

  1. KICK-OFFpublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    We've seen one Premier League side get the job done in Europe tonight.

    Can Arsenal and West Ham follow suit in the Europa League and Europa Conference League respectively?

  2. Scamacca West Ham's new forward conundrumpublished at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    West Ham v AEK Larnaca (20:00GMT)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    It wasn't that long ago West Ham paid a club record £45m for Sebastian Haller, only for the striker to flop and get sold on to Ajax, where he started scoring again and earned a summer move to Borussia Dortmund.

    Last summer, the Hammers paid £30.5m to Sassuolo for Italy forward Gianluca Scamacca.

    But the 24-year-old has been unimpressive. He has scored one goal in 14 appearances since the beginning of October and David Moyes brought in Danny Ings during the January transfer window to try give his side more of a cutting edge.

    Scamacca needs to find some form pretty quickly.

  3. Postpublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Arsenal v Sporting Lisbon (Agg 2-2)

    Mark Schwarzer
    Former Middlesbrough & Fulham keeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It is perfect timing and opportunity for Gabriel Jesus to gain fitness. It will be valuable time before the international break.

    He hasn’t scored in the Europa League so far this season and tonight would be a perfect opportunity to get on the scoresheet.

    Mikel Arteta has built a very strong squad he can rely on. This team shows their strength in depth.

  4. Moyes aiming for more Euro success at West Hampublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    West Ham v AEK Larnaca (20:00 GMT, Agg: 2-0)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport at London Stadium

    West Ham manager David Moyes has revisited one of the best nights of his entire time at the club in his programme notes this evening.

    Overturning a one-goal deficit to knockout Sevilla in extra-time was an achievement that won't be forgotten in a hurry.

    "It was at this time last season that we defeated Sevilla in the last 16 of the Europa League and then went on to overcome Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter finals," says Moyes.

    "We are all hoping here at West Ham that we can again reach the last eight of a European club competition for the second successive year which, I am led to believe, will be the first time since 1966 for this club, and only the second time in our history."

  5. Sporting chance?published at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Arsenal v Sporting Lisbon (Agg: 2-2, 20:00 GMT)

    Both Arsenal and Sporting come into this game off the back of convincing 3-0 wins. The Gunners took Fulham to the cleaners, while Ruben Amorim's side brushed Boavista aside.

    Sporting arrive in London on a seven-game unbeaten run and having scored in each of their last 10 games. There is every chance Arsenal may need to score more than once tonight to put this tie to bed.

    Another thing in Sporting's favour is a clear ability to get results away from home, both in Portugal and Europe. They've won their last five on the road in all competitions. Saying that, the last time they managed a victory in England was in 2005 when they beat Middlesbrough in the Uefa Cup. Since then, they've lost nine on the bounce.

  6. Pick of the statspublished at 19:53 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Arsenal v Sporting Lisbon (Agg: 2-2, 20:00 GMT)

    • Arsenal's Bukayo Saka completed eight dribbles in the first leg against Sporting, the most by a player aged 21 or younger in a Europa League game since Calvin Stengs completed 10 for AZ against LASK in February 2020.
    • When failing to win a home first leg of a two-legged knockout tie in major European competition, Sporting have been eliminated in 21 of their previous 22 such ties.
    • Arsenal are without a win in their past three Europa League knockout stage games at home (D2 L1), with their last such win coming against Portuguese opposition, beating Benfica 3-2 in February 2021.
    • Sporting are winless in their past nine away games against English sides in major European competition (D4 L5) since beating Middlesbrough 3-2 in the 2004-05 Uefa Cup last 16.
    • Arsenal have lost just one of their nine home games against Portuguese clubs in all European competition (W7 D1), a 3-1 defeat by Benfica which saw them eliminated from the 1991-92 European Cup last 16.
  7. Moyes is West Ham's Euro kingpublished at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    West Ham v AEK Larnaca (20:00 GMT, Agg:2-0)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport at London Stadium

    If West Ham are able to secure a place in the last eight, it would be their sixth European quarter-final.

    That is not a bad return from 10 campaigns, two of which didn't even result in them emerging from the qualification phase.

    Clearly, much of the frustration around manager David Moyes this season has been due to the Hammers' below-par Premier League form - they could well go into the international break in the relegation zone given the three teams below them all play this weekend and they don't.

    In Europe though, Moyes has done really well. His 15 wins across the last two seasons is as many as former West Ham bosses Ron Greenwood and John Lyall managed between them.

    Admittedly, that pair did both reach a final, Greenwood winning his when his side beat 1860 Munich in the 1965 Cup Winners' Cup final at Wembley.

  8. What happened in the first leg?published at 19:49 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    West Ham v AEK Larnaca (20:00 GMT, 2-0 first leg)

    West Ham took a big step towards the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League with a comfortable 2-0 first-leg victory at AEK Larnaca.

    Michail Antonio scored two first-half goals for David Moyes' side, who have now won all nine of their matches in the competition this term.

    It was no more than the Hammers deserved with Antonio almost adding a third after the break when he drove a low effort against the right-hand post.

    The Cypriot hosts caused the visitors some early problems but West Ham grew in confidence and took the lead when unmarked Antonio headed Said Benrahma's left-wing delivery into the right corner.

    With the Premier League side searching for a second, Pablo Fornals drove wide of the left post moments before Antonio doubled the lead when he collected a pass on the edge of the area and superbly curled an effort around his marker into the top-right corner.

  9. Elsewhere in Europe...published at 19:48 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    These are the results from the other games in Europe so far tonight.

    Europa League

    • Fenerbahce 1-0 Sevilla (1-2 on aggregate)
    • Feyenoord 7-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (8-2 on aggregate)
    • Freiburg 0-2 Juventus (0-3 on aggregate)

    Europa Conference League

    • Djurgardens 0-3 Lech Poznan (0-5 on aggregate)
    • Sivasspor 1-4 Fiorentina (1-5 on aggregate)

    Slovan Bratislava v Basel is in extra time and tied at 4-4 on aggregate after Zeki Amdouni scored in the third minute of injury time for Basel to make it 2-2 on the night, the same score as the first leg.

  10. 'Still question marks for Erik ten Hag'published at 19:47 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    FT: Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Manchester United were wobbly at times and gave it away in the first leg and it was like that in the first half here. When you have your big moments you have to score and United did that tonight. They are through comfortably.

    But who else is going to turn up and score the goals? There's still question marks there for Erik ten Hag and he will think there's work to do with the team.

  11. 'We have really missed Gabriel'published at 19:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Arsenal v Sporting Lisbon (Agg 2-2)

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta talking to BT Sport: "This is a big one. We expect the team we have picked to win the game.

    "We picked a team we believe is best to start.

    "We have really missed Gabriel Jesus. He has changed something in this team and we need him back scoring goals."

  12. 'It is a risk that someone might get injured' - Suttonpublished at 19:42 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Arsenal v Sporting Lisbon (Agg: 2-2, 20:00 GMT)

    Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta should consider resting key personnel in the second-leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.

    The Gunners drew the first leg 2-2 away from home, fielding a strong side.

    Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily he said: "Away in Lisbon he started Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. If you're an Arsenal fan you will be saying that is great to go for two trophies but Arsenal are in such an impressive position in the league that if either got injured, they are enormous players.

    "We understand about prioritising but who expected Arsenal to be in this position at this moment in time? Nobody expected it, the fans, players or Mikel Arteta certainly wouldn’t have expected it.

    "While I take my hat off to them for going strong in the Europa League just imagine, it is a risk that someone might get injured. I am all for managers going full hit to try and win all four competitions. But Arsenal may dominate the league for years. I don’t necessarily think they will although this is a one-off season where they are nearly over the line in the league."

    Former Premier League midfielder Charlie Adam added: "You don’t know what is around the corner. If he wants to rotate he has people like Emile Smith Rowe that can come in and play.

    "They struggle with strength and depth in the squad, they are not at the same level that Manchester City are. If he wants to make changes they are obviously a bit of a gamble but the priority will be the Premier League.

    "The longer the Europa League goes, they will want to try and win it as well and create their own history. It is a big chance for Arsenal to win the league but I still think Manchester City will win it."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

  13. 'Betis couldn't live with them'published at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    FT: Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Manchester United will fancy it and will think they have enough [to win the competition].

    They need to find more goalscorers as Marcus Rashford again provided something special.

    But Betis couldn't live with them in the end. Manchester United at times can get on the end of beatings but they have learnt how to see through moments and games.

  14. Postpublished at 19:38 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    FT: Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    So that is Manchester United into the draw for the last eight, which takes place tomorrow.

    Feyenoord will join them after hammering Shakhtar Donetsk 8-2 on aggregate. As it stands, Juventus and Sevilla will be there too.

    Will Arsenal be in the hat too?

  15. 'They have done the job'published at 19:36 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    FT: Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Manchester United are through and they have done the job. After that rocky first half they have been as comfortable as you can get in the second half.

  16. FULL-TIMEpublished at 90+3 mins

    Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    Betis came out and swung a few punches, but United held firm. Had Juanmi's early effort gone in, things could have been different.

    As it is, Erik ten Hag's side cruise through.

  17. Postpublished at 19:35 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Betis' minds would have changed to Sunday [for their next league match]. As soon as that goal went in they would have thought 'we have to qualify for the Champions League', because they have a chance.

  18. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    Two uneventful added minutes gone, one to go.

  19. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    There'll be three added minutes. Not that it really matters.

  20. Postpublished at 87 mins

    Real Betis 0-1 Man Utd (Agg: 1-5)

    It's not Juanmi's night.

    Sergio Canales runs down the right, beating a couple of men before sending a low ball towards his team-mate. Instead of killing the ball dead for a shot, Junami's touch is way too heavy and the ball runs away from him. Chance gone.