Manchester United and Tottenham faced intense battles in the Europa League last 16 this week. United managed a thrilling 1-1 draw away at Real Sociedad, while Spurs were narrowly defeated 1-0 by AZ Alkmaar.
Joshua Zirkzee lit up the pitch for United, netting his first European goal of the season with a sharp low drive from 20 yards, expertly assisted by Alejandro Garnacho. Despite Zirkzee's brilliance, the match took a twist when Bruno Fernandes was penalized for a handball, allowing Mikel Oyarzabal to equalize from the spot.
It's been a challenging season for Zirkzee, especially after missing a crucial penalty in last week's FA Cup shootout against Fulham. His performance against Real Sociedad marks a silver lining in his first season with United, who now rely solely on the Europa League for a chance at silverware.
Meanwhile, Tottenham's campaign came to an end with a 1-0 loss in the Netherlands, courtesy of an own goal by Lucas Bergvall. The week also saw Rangers triumph with a 3-1 victory over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce and Lyon advance to the quarterfinals after a 3-1 win against Romania's FCSB.
Reference(s):
United draw in Spain in Europa League last 16 as Spurs beaten
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