Gent leave it late, Juventus through, Barcelona win
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Article summary
Juventus are through to the Coppa Italia semi-finals, while Barcelona are closing in on the last four of the Copa del Rey and Gent took a dramatic Belgian Cup lead.
Article top media content
Article body
THURSDAY
Gent 2-1 Club Brugge (Dejaegere 59, Kums 90+2; Diaby 38)
Sven Kums struck in added time to give Gent victory against Club Brugge in the first leg of their Belgian Cup semi-final. Despite Dian Cools's 23rd-minute sending off, the visitors took the lead before half-time through Abdoulay Diaby. However, Brecht Dejaegere deflected in a Lasse Nielsen shot in the 59th minute to equalise and Kums's well-placed shot ensured Gent will be ahead of the holders for the second leg on 3 February.
Luzern 1-2 Dynamo Kyiv (Schachten 42; Júnior Moraes 22 33)
Two Júnior Moraes goals ensured Dynamo bounced back from Wednesday's loss to Linense in another friendly in Marbella. Dynamo have further matches in Spain against Jiangsu Suning on Sunday, 1860 München the following day and Slavia Praha next Wednesday.
El Jaish 1-4 Zenit (Romarinho 29; Bogaev 84, Dolgov 86, Javi García 90, Zinkov 90)
Zenit produced a superb late comeback to win another friendly in Doha following their 2-1 success against Qatari champions Lekhwiya on Sunday. They complete their programme in Qatar on Sunday when they face Sudanese champions Al Merrikha.
WEDNESDAY
Athletic Club 1-2 Barcelona (Aduriz 89; Munir 18, Neymar 25)
Holders Barça are well placed to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals, though they are not quite as comfortable as they might have been due to Aritz Aduriz's late effort for Athletic in the opening instalment of this last-eight tie. Munir El Haddadi and Neymar – with his 20th club goal in 25 appearances this season – gave the visitors a two-goal cushion inside 25 minutes. However, Aduriz, joint-leading scorer in the UEFA Europa League group stage, gave Athletic, who go to the Camp Nou next week, hope at the death.
Celta Vigo 0-0 Atlético Madrid
Atlético beat Celta 2-0 in the Liga on 10 January but Diego Simeone's side could not find a breakthrough in the first leg of their quarter-final. Indeed the capital side might have lost had Gabi not cleared off the line following a late mix-up between Miguel Ángel Moyà and Augusto Fernández, who only joined the club from Celta earlier this month. The return takes place in Madrid next week.
Lazio 0-1 Juventus (Lichtsteiner 66)
Juventus moved a step closer to retaining the Coppa Italia with a victory that books a semi-final with Internazionale Milano. Stephan Lichtsteiner scored the only goal, squeezing the rebound over the line after Simone Zaza's shot came off a post. The other semi is between AC Milan and third-tier side Alessandria. The first legs will be held next week, with the returns at the start of March.
Linense 1-0 Dynamo Kyiv (Espinar 24)
Despite dominating possesison, Dynamo lost a friendly in Marbella against third-tier Spanish opposition. Dynamo drew 2-2 with Dynamo Dresden and beat Skënderbeu 4-1 in their Spanish winter camp last weekend.
TUESDAY
Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Toulouse (David Luiz 54, Ibrahimović 89pen; Moubandje 11)
Zlatan Ibrahimović was Paris' match winner against Toulouse for the second time in three days as the Coupe de France holders edged into the last 16. Having started the 1-0 weekend victory at the Stadium de Toulouse, the Sweden captain came off the bench on the hour and fired Laurent Blanc's side into the next round after Uroš Spajić had fouled Layvin Kurzawa with extra time looming.
Oriental Lisboa 0-1 Benfica (Talisca 74)
Holders Benfica made it two wins out of two in Portuguese League Cup Group B with victory away to their second-division neighbours. Talisca's strike from the edge of the area means another three points at Moreirense next Tuesday will give Benfica first place and a semi-final berth. Full-back Nélson Semedo played 90 minutes on his return from a knee injury that has sidelined him since October.