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FULL TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 COPENHAGEN – EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL ACTION FROM GERMANY

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Full-time: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen

Manchester United have qualified for the Europa League semi-finals! Bruno Fernandes scored in extra-time from the penalty spot after relentless pressure from United. Credit to Copenhagen, who did not go down without a fight.

113mins: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen

Jesse Lingard is coming on for Marcus Rashford. The winger appeared to be feeling his groin slightly in the last few minutes.

111mins: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen

United look to be really comfortable seeing this match out. Bruno Fernandes almost slots Anthony Martial in but the pass it slightly over hit.

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2ND HALF OF EXTRA TIME IS ON

106mins: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen

Back underway for the final 15 minutes of action. United appear to be in the driving seat but a Copenhagen equaliser would see us head to a penalty shootout. 106

105mins: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen

Manchester United almost get a second as Fernandes tests the goalkeeper once again. United really searching for that second goal.

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104mins: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen

Juan Mata can’t keep his first-time effort down after some more great play from Anthony Martial. 

100mins: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen

That was a special move from Anthony Martial. The forward takes it past several defenders and backheels the ball to Juan Mata, who can’t quite find the finish. Superb stuff from the Frenchman. 

94mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

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PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED! After Anthony Martial misses and absolute sitter, he is then fouled moments later to win a penalty for United.

94mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED! After Anthony Martial misses and absolute sitter, he is then fouled moments later to win a penalty for United.

Mata on

Juan Mata is on for the extra period, replacing Mason Greenwood as we get extra time off to a start.

91mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

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Manchester United kick us off in extra-time as they try and find that moment of magic. Juan Mata has come on for Mason Greenwood.

Full-time: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

Extra-time it is. Who would have thought this before kick-off? United hit the woodwork, had penalty appeals, twp goals rules out by VAR but need an extra 30 minutes to try and break down Copenhagen. 

90mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

Aaron Wan Bissaka flashes the ball across the goalmouth but no-one in Red is there to tap it in. Extra-time is looking like a real possibility.

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87mins:A bit of room opens up for Fernandes but he takes too long and his strike is blocked.

This now looks more like we’re going to be heading into extra time unless someone can conjure up something in the dying minutes.

85mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

HUGE CHANCE! Anthony Martial fires a curling effort towards the top right corner but his shot is stopped by a terrific save! 

Falk hares down the right and cuts inside. He schools Williams with a clever backheel and hits the deck.

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The referee was right in line and waves his finger, and VAR agree – no penalty.

82mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

Big penalty call for Copenhagen! Varela cuts inside of Brandon Williams and it looked like he was tripped by check is over

77mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

This game starting to look really stretched now.

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The heat must be sapping the energy of both teams.

Subs could prove crucial as gaps begin to appear, but who will make it count?

The Danes still looking dangerous with just over 15 minutes left. Rasmus Falk has been the key to Copenhagen’s creativity in attack and former Sunderland man Bryan Oviedo has his shot blocked.

71mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

Fred comes off for Nemanja Matic and Eric Bailly makes way for Victor Lindelof.

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SAVE!

70min:Johnsson denies Fernandes this time as he pushes the dipping shot into the air.

Pogba gets a crack soon after but the keeper is down to save.

There simply has to be a good soon, surely…

69mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

CHANCE! Bruno Ferandes somehow shoots with more venom than last time as he tests the goalkeeper. This match is really end-to-end now.

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67mins:Copenhagen work their way in – a chance to score here.

It falls to ex-Everton man Brian Oviedo whose only just come off the bench, but Bailly again turns saviour with a last-ditch block.

This game is hanging on a knife edge.

66mins:Bailly is next to go in the book as he thwarts a Copenhagen breakaway. Looked soft but United now have both centre-backs on a yellow.

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65mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

UNITED HIT THE POST AGAIN! Bruno Fernandes lets a wicked strike go from range and it somehow stays out! Is it going to be one of those nights for Solskjaer’s side?

62mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

CHANCE! Marcus Rashford should have done better as he found himself one-on-one but could not connect with Fernandes’ cross. Copenhagen counter attack but can’t test Sergio Romero.

57mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

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A second offside goal for Manchester United! Mason Greenwood flashes a strike against the post and Marcus Rashford pounces on the rebound but was offside. Painful for United.

55mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

United are really pushing for the opener. Anthony Martial almost wriggles free inside the box, minutes later Bruno Fernandes is almost found one-on-one and Fred tried his luck from the edge of the box shortly after. 

Half-time scores

Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

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VAR overrules

Greenwood has the ball in the back of the net but it’s disallowed by VAR.

The youngster had raced in behind the defence before striking the ball off their foot of the far post and in.

But he had edged slightly offside in the build-up and it’s rightly overturned.

GOOOAAL!!!!!

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45mins: Manchester United 1-0 Copenhagen

GOAL! Mason Greenwood scores for United! His 18th of the season. He pulls away from the defence and brilliantly uses the inside of the post to put it in the back of the net.

44TH MIN. United are pushing to try and break down Copenhagen’s structured defence. Anthony Martial almost scores from close range and Marcus Rashford fizzes and effort at goal just moments later. Just a few minutes left before the break.

34TH MIN STILL 0-0

Corner for United. Greenwood cuts in and hits one but it cannons off the head of a Copenhagen defender.

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Fernandes swings it in but it’s headed clear again without challenge from a red shirt.

Fred launches the ball back in with Rashford chasing but he can’t quite get there.

United have shaken off those early cobwebs it seems.

31mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

A great cross from Marcus Rashford almost finds Anthony Martial who is stretching. They have to get their front three on the ball more.

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Penalty?

The referee looked to have pointed to the spot there as United came close to scoring.

Maguire helped the ball back across goal and Greenwood went down in the box.

Fernandes was following in behind and his header was tipped over by the keeper.

And despite the confusion the official actually gives Copenhagen a free-kick for an earlier offside.

17mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

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Manchester United meanwhile are somehow still drawing! Copenhagen had another golden chance as a mistake at the back let in Mohamed Daramy. Some last ditch defending is enough but this has not been a good start from Solskjaer’s side.

14mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen

CHANCE! Copenhagen almost take a shock lead as the ball finds Mohamed Daramy a few yards out but he messes up his lines for a simple tap-in. A huge warning sign for United. Meanwhile, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is down with an injury.

3mins: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen
The Danes get off to a fast start with some good possession around United’s box. However, they deal with the pressure and look to get more settled in the opening moments. United win a corner.

Kick-off: Manchester United 0-0 Copenhagen
Manchester United get us underway.

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Manchester United are about facing Copenhagen in one of the quarter final matches of the Europa League hoping to repeat their victory of the competition  three seasons ago,

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side breezed past LASK in the last round with a 7-1 victory on aggregate. The Red Devils are heavy favourites to make it to the final four, as they face a Copenhagen side who knocked out Turkish Superlig champions Istanbul Basaksehir in the Round of 16. 

Meanwhile, two potential favourites to win the Europa League battle it out as Inter Milan face Bayer Leverkusen. The Serie A side are in red hot form losing just one of their last 15 competitive matches whilst Leverkusen comfortably beat Rangers to earn their place in the final eight. 

Here are the starting line-ups…

Man United XI: Romero, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Bailly, Williams, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, Martial, Greenwood, Rashford.

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Subs: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah, Lindelof, Mengi, Andreas, James, Lingard, Mata, Matic, McTonimay, Chong, Ighalo.

Copenhagen XI: Johnsson, Varela, Nelsson, Bjelland, Boilesen, Zeca, Stage, Biel, Wind, Falk, Daramy.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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‘Mr Europa League’ Unai Emery into yet another final

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UEFA Europa League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - May 7, 2026. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith.

Four-times Europa League winner Unai Emery booked an astonishing sixth final in the competition as ​a manager on Thursday when his Aston Villa team swept ‌aside Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their all-English semi-final.

The 54-year-old Spaniard has won three times with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016) and once ​with Villarreal (2021) – either side of a defeat with Arsenal (2019) – ​deservedly earning him the epithet “Mr Europa League” from some ⁠fans and media.

Now he goes to the 2026 final seeking ​a fifth title, this time with Aston Villa against Bundesliga side ​Freiburg.

“His track record speaks for itself,” said Villa striker Ollie Watkins, heaping praise on his boss as the man to guarantee Europa League success. “We ​need to go and win it now.”

Emery was delighted with ​how his team overturned a 1-0 deficit to Forest in the first ‌leg ⁠of the Europa League semi-final to score four times at home and win 4-1 on aggregate.

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“Now we have to look to the final,” he said, hoping that Villa will do “something fantastic” ​for their fans.

Though ​thrilled at Thursday’s ⁠win, Emery left the pitch quickly after the final whistle, pumping his fist a few ​times at the crowd before letting his players ​enjoy the ⁠moment with fans

He and his Villa side will be favourites at the Europa League final in Istanbul on May 20, but ⁠Emery was ​taking nothing for granted. “Of course German ​teams are so difficult, their coaches, their players are so good,” he added ​of the upcoming opponents.

-Reuters

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List of teams qualified for the Europa League knockout phase

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Tyrone Mings scores their second goal REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

List of teams which have qualified for the next round of the Europa League after the league phase concluded on Thursday, ranked by table position:

Directly to the round of 16:

1. Olympique Lyonnais (France)

2. Aston Villa (England)

3. Midtjylland (Denmark)

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4. Real Betis (Spain)

5. Porto (Portugal)

6. Braga (Portugal)

7. Freiburg (Germany)

8. AS Roma (Italy)

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Knockout phase play-off places (seeded)

9. Genk (Belgium)

10. Bologna (Italy)

11. VfB Stuttgart (Germany)

12. Ferencvaros (Hungary)

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13. Nottingham Forest (England)

14. Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)

15. Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)

16. Celta Vigo (Spain)

Knockout phase play-off places (unseeded)

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17. PAOK (Greece)

18. Lille (France)

19. Fenerbahce (Turkey)

20. Panathinaikos (Greece)

21. Celtic (Scotland)

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22. Ludogorets (Bulgaria)

23. Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)

24. SK Brann (Norway)

-Reuters

 UEFA Europa League – Aston Villa v RB Salzburg – Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain – January 29, 2026 Aston

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Maccabi Tel Aviv refuse away tickets for Aston Villa Europa League match

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Maccabi Tel Aviv

Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv will not accept any away fan tickets for their Europa League match at Aston Villa next month, even if local authorities reverse the decision to ban their supporters, they said on Monday.

The ban followed safety concerns raised by British Police, who cited potential protests outside Villa Park, following demonstrations at Israel’s recent World Cup qualifiers in Oslo and Udine.

“From hard lessons learned we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans and our decision should be understood in that context,” Maccabi said in a statement.

“We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”

Aston Villa announced the decision last week, saying they were following instructions from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), who are responsible for issuing safety certificates for games at Villa Park.

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West Midlands Police described the match as high risk, past incidents, including violent confrontations and hate crime offences involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters ahead of a November 2024 game in Amsterdam.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the announcement as “shameful”.

Villa are third in the Europa League standings while Maccabi Tel Aviv are 30th after two rounds.

-Reuters

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