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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. Postpublished at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    We'll come back to the two games featuring English teams that kick off at 8pm a bit later.

    First, we have to focus in on events in Seville, where Manchester United are in town to try and seal their progress to the last eight of the Europa League.

  2. 'We've got a job to do'published at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

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

    These are troubling times at West Ham, with the club's chief focus being their ongoing battle to remain in the Premier League.

    However, Hammers boss David Moyes remains eager to achieve in Europe and says he wants wants his side "to get to the final" of the Europa Conference League.

    The Hammers defeated AEK Larnaca 2-0 in their first leg in Cyprus thanks to a Michail Antonio brace - a result that extended their record of having won all their games in the competition so far (9).

    "The big thing we really want is to get to the final, but we have to be completely focused," said Moyes

    "We've got a job to do and, if we can do that, then we'd reach the quarter-final of another European competition for two years in a row. It's important, it really is."

  3. 'A big challenge'published at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

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

    Arsenal have a trickier job on their hands tonight, hosting Sporting Lisbon after having claimed a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Portugal.

    However, judging by the way the Gunners have taken to pretty much every challenge so far this season, it would be a brave person that bets against them going through.

    Boss Mikel Arteta is relishing a big European night at the Emirates - one he hopes will compliment rather than cause any issues in their Premier League title bid...

    "We haven't had big European nights for three years. Due to Covid especially," he said.

    "Tomorrow [Thursday] is the first one for a while. Hopefully we will build a big atmosphere and enjoy with our supporters against a really good team that is going to put a big challenge in front of us."

  4. 'Don't get complacent'published at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Real Betis v Man Utd (Agg: 1-4, 17:45 GMT)

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag certainly isn't taking anything for granted. After praising captain Bruno Fernandes, saying he was the best player on the pitch after that first-leg win, he warned his players that they can never become complacent following their heavy defeat by Liverpool in the Premier League...

    Media caption,

    Champions League: Man Utd v Real Betis - Fernandes was the best player

  5. Postpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Real Betis v Man Utd (Agg: 1-4, 17:45 GMT)

    Yeah, there are a few changes, but that is very much a Man Utd side that says 'get the job done and move on'.

  6. Team news - Maguire given armbandpublished at 16:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Real Betis v Man Utd (Agg: 1-4)

    Manchester United make four changes to the side who drew 0-0 with Southampton at the weekend.

    Harry Maguire comes in and is given the armband. Facundo Pellistri, Fred and Tyrell Malacia are also given starts.

    Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw all drop to the bench. Antony, who played on Sunday is not in the squad.

    Man Utd XI: De Gea, Malacia, Martinez, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Casemiro, Rashford, Fernandes, Pellistri, Weghorst.

    Subs: Heaton, Butland, Lindelof, Sabitzer, Varane, Dalot, Shaw, Sancho, Elanga, McTominay

    It's three changes for Real Betis from their first-leg defeat last week. Rui Silva replaces Claudio Bravo in goal, defender Luiz Felipe is replaced by Edgar Gonzales and forward Aitor Ruibal comes in for Luiz Henrique.

    Real Betis XI: Rui Silva, Sabaly, Pezzella, Edgar Gonzales, Abner Vinicius, Rodriguez, William Carvalho, Aitor Ruibal, Joaquin, Juanmi, Perez.

    Subs: Bravo, Martin, Víctor Ruiz, Borja Iglesias, Canales, Luiz Henrique, Willian Jose, Guardado, Rodri, Miranda, Felix Garreta, Dani Perez.

  7. Pretty much therepublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Real Betis v Man Utd (Agg: 1-4, 17:45 GMT)

    Marcus Rashford scores against Real BetisImage source, Getty Images

    You can never fully rule anything out in European competition, but Manchester United's 4-1 first-leg win over Real Betis at Old Trafford, makes this second leg a pretty comfortable one for the Red Devils.

    The Spanish side showed a bit of pluck in Manchester, with Ayoze Perez drawing them level after Marcus Rashford's opener. But Erik ten Hag's team then ran away with it, to such an extent that even Wout Weghorst got in on the goals.

    Tonight, they are without Anthony Martial and long-term absentees Donny van de Beek and Christian Eriksen as well as Argentina youngster Alejandro Garnacho, who ten Hag said has a "serious" injury. But does anyone really think United don't have enough to get the job done?

  8. A free hitpublished at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2023

    Mikel ArtetaImage source, Getty Images

    If everything goes to plan for Arsenal and Manchester United this season, both will have Thursday nights off.

    The pair have bigger and better things to aspire to.

    It leaves this current Europa League campaign as something of a free hit - a trophy to have a good old go at while you deal with the important business in the Premier League.

    One of the two are pretty much through to the quarter-finals already. The other has a bit of work to do.

    And let's not forget West Ham, who are probably seeing tonight's action as a bit of an unnecessary distraction from what is becoming a bit of an alarming situation back home.

    Erik ten HagImage source, Getty Images