Ciro Immobile scored twice as Lazio kept alive their hopes of winning Europa League Group E with an impressive victory away to Lokomotiv Moscow.
With Lyon already through to the knockout phase, there were chances for some of the Europa League’s other big guns to join them. West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen accepted the opportunity but Eintracht Frankfurt still have work to do and there was disappointment for another fancied club.
The Europa League 2021 betting odds back Napoli as a potential winner, but the Scudetto-chasing side slipped up in Moscow so their destiny remains in the balance.
But Serie A rivals Lazio are at least guaranteed second place after a brace of penalties from Capocannoniere chasing Immobile and a fine strike from Pedro gave the Italians a comprehensive and much needed 3-0 victory.
Locomotiv are out of the competition but Maurizio Sarri’s side can top the group with a 1-0 win over Galatasaray in their final fixture.
Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 Celtic
Leverkusen sealed the top spot in Group G with a last-gasp victory over Celtic as Moussa Diaby volley home the winner in a five goal thriller.
After Robert Andrich gave the hosts the lead, the Scottish club roared back through Jota and a Josip Juranovic spot-kick to lead with just 10 minutes remaining.
But when Andrich added a second after good work from Amine Adli, that set up Diaby to deliver one of the best Europa League 2021 highlights of the night when he smashed home his volley from 20 yards.
Celtic’s chances of progress disappeared without trace but Bayer march on. And Die Werkself are going nicely in the Bundesliga too, so it could be a good year at home and abroad for Leverkusen.
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Antwerp
The Eagles missed a chance to fly through to the knockouts of the Europa League when they drew at home to Antwerp.
Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada gave the Bundesliga side an early lead with a well-taken finish, but the warhorse Radja Naingollan fired a long distance effort to draw Antwerp level on the half-hour.
Eintracht went for the win by raining shots down on the Belgians’ goal but all too often they were wayward. And when Ritchie de Laet slotted home, it looked like Antwerp had grabbed the win but VAR intervened and adjudged the former Leicester City man to be marginally offside.
But the technology couldn’t save the Germans when Mbwana Samatta finished off a fast break with just two minutes on the clock and Antwerp celebrated. However, the Eagles weren’t finished and Goncalo Paciencia saved a point on 94 minutes.
Eintracht stay top of Group D with two points ahead of Olimpiacos while Antwerp stay at the bottom.
Rapid Vienna 0-2 West Ham
West Ham have successfully navigated Group H and are through to the knockouts after goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and veteran Mark Noble saw them to a comfortable win over Rapid Vienna.
With Austria back in a lockdown situation following an upsurge in COVID-19 cases, the empty stadium echoed the shouts of triumph from the Hammers when Yarmolenko headed them into a 39th-minute lead. The Ukraine striker then won a penalty which Noble converted to make it 2-0 at the break.
It was a professional display from West Ham who have been impressive throughout their Europa campaign. And now they are through, they can look forward to a Premier League game away to Manchester City on Sunday.
Make sure you take a look at the SBOTOP blog with the preview and tips for that fascinating top-four clash. The Sky Blues are on fire at the moment but the Hammers looked just fine tonight.
Spartak Moscow 2-1 Napoli
Serie A leaders Napoli lost a tight affair in Moscow to throw Group C wide open. Both teams are left on seven points with one game remaining while Legia Warsaw and Leicester City are still in the hunt too.
It’s going down to the last game and Napoli will rue the poor start they made tonight as they were caught cold in frosty Moscow.
The Azzurri were without strikers Lorenzo Insigne, Victor Osimhen, and Matteo Politano but they had a shocker of a start when their defence blew it with just two minutes on the clock.
Stanislav Lobotka clattered into Quincy Promes, the referee pointed to the spot and Aleksandr Sobolev slammed the penalty into the top corner.
Spartak made it 2-0 on the half-hour and it was Sobolev again who met a cross from Victor Moses to beat Alex Meret at the back post with a well-taken header.
Napoli were better after the break and came close to scoring when Dries Mertens saw his volley tipped over the bar. They halved the deficit when Eljif Elmas headed home a cross from Andrea Petagna but couldn’t breach the Spartak defence again and so they still have work to do.
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