Premier League in Europe Results

Manchester City and Chelsea were victorious in their opening Champions league quarterfinal matches while Liverpool suffered defeat to Real Madrid. Manchester City defeated Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad by a score of 2-1 on a 90th minute goal by Phil Foden. Kevin De Bruyne had opened scoring for City before a potentially meaningful away goal was scored by Dortmund’s Marco Reus. Reus’s 18th Champions League goal made him Dortmund’s all-time leader scorer in the competition, surpassing Robert Lewandowski. The score by Reus ended a run of seven consecutive clean sheets in Champions League matches by Manchester City. Despite an outstanding effort, Dortmund will feel some bitterness concerning a controversially disallowed goal by Jude Bellingham.  

Chelsea rebounded strongly from its shocking league loss to West Brom by defeating Porto 2-0 in the opening leg of their Champions League tie played in Seville. England players Rick Mount and Ben Chilwell were the goal scorers for Chelsea while goalkeeper Edouard Mendy recorded his 10th clean sheet under manager Thomas Tuchel.

10 - Since Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of Chelsea (27th Jan 2021), no goalkeeper playing for a top five European league side has kept more clean sheets in all competitions than Edouard Mendy (10). Calming. pic.twitter.com/O4QOqH52V5

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 7, 2021

Chelsea’s seven clean sheets and two goals conceded in Champions League play represent the joint best defensive performance in the competition this season, matched by Manchester City. 

Liverpool was overmatched in a 3-1 defeat at Real Madrid. Liverpool’s midfield was overrun, particularly in the first half before Naby Keita was replaced by Thiago, and the Reds’ fullbacks were often out of position against a resurgent Real Madrid which has not lost in any competition since January after a poor start to their season. Vinicius Junior had perhaps his best game for Real Madrid in scoring two goals which bookmarked a score by Asensio. Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool which now faces a daunting two goal deficit at its no longer formidable fortress of Anfield next week.  

Manchester United eased to a 2-0 win at Granada in their Europa League quarterfinal match as the Red Devils have now lost but once in their past 17 matches across all competitions. A first half goal by Marcus Rashford and 90th minute penalty kick converted by Bruno Fernandes accounted for the Red Devils scoring while David De Gea posted a clean sheet in his return to the line-up for United.  Of some concern for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the clubs head to Old Trafford for the second leg will be the absence due to accumulated yellow cards of Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw, and Harry McGuire.  

Arsenal failed to keep a clean sheet for a 14th consecutive time across all competitions in a 1-1 Europa League draw against Dinamo Zagreb. The Gunners conceded the tying goal to Dinamo’s Tomas Holes in extra time after substitute Nicolas Pepe had put the Gunners in front at the 86th minute mark. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had assisted on the Arsenal goal after both he and Pepe were late substitutes for the Gunners. The two high priced talents had begun the match on the bench due to their poor recent form. Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka were among Arsenal players missing clear chances which would have ensured victory for the frustrated Gunners.