Arsenal take a 2-1 lead into the break againt Valencia in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final contest.

The visitors struck first in the clash as Mouctar Diakhaby headed home from close range after Rodrigo Moreno had headed Daniel Parejo’s corner across the face of goal.

Ezequiel Garay should have put Valencia before Diakhaby’s opener as Marcelino’s men enjoyed a strong start to the game. However, the Gunners responded with a quick counter, which resulted in Alexandre Lacazette sliding home an equaliser.

The Frenchman was on point again to head his team in front after connecting with Granit Xhaka’s cross into the box. It has been an eventful first half at the Emirates Stadium.

Valencia were on top in the early stages of the game and should have been further ahead.

The fact that they are behind at the break will annoy Marcelino. They were cut open too easily by the Gunners for the two goals, and he will be demanding an improvement from his defenders in the second half.

A 2-1 result would not be a bad one for the Spanish outfit, which will give them pause for thought before committing men forward in the second period.

Photo Credit: uefa.com

Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea are level at the break, after the visitors equalise right at the end of the half, scoring a crucial away goal through Pedro.

Frankfurt took a deserved lead midway through the half through the 21-year-old Luka Jovic, after his diving header beat Kepa and flew into the bottom corner.

But the Stamford Bridge club rallied just before the break. Ruben Loftus-Cheek kickstarted a mini-revival, lashing an effort just wide of the post before turning provider to pick out Pedro, who powered an equaliser into the corner of goal just a minute before the half-time whistle.

Sarri said they had “trouble” in defence and they have looked suspect down the left, with Danny da Costa finding joy time and again against the defender, while Andreas Christensen, on thin ice after an early booking, has looked nervy at times. It’s all to play for in the second half.

The game is finely poised now and it’s been a fairly even so far, with both teams having a few chances to score, but Chelsea now have that important away goal to take back to Stamford Bridge.

Photo Credit: chelseafc.com

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri claims he has a ‘good feeling’ about the Europa League as his club engage Eintracht Frankfurt.

Chelsea face the Bundesliga club in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday evening, and Sarri is confident of winning the competition, reports Football Italia.

“With Napoli I played eight matches and lost one, the feeling for this competition is good,” the former Napoli Coach said at a Press conference.

“We need top four in the Premier League, we want to get into the Champions League.

“It is very difficult to get into top four of Premier League, in the Final of League Cup we had to get through Liverpool and Tottenham twice, then City in the Final.

“[That] was like a Champions League.”

Lionel Messi has expressed concern over what may await Barcelona at Anfield Barcelona despite his heroics securing a 3-0 first-leg win in the Champions League semi-final.

The diminutive Argentine genius hammered in a free-kick from 35 yards for the third after scoring a tap in following Luis Suarez’s first-half opener.

It would take a miraculous comeback from Liverpool to advance to the final next Tuesday night but Messi doesn’t want to take his foot off the gas.

‘We were so close to the fourth goal at the end. The 3-0 is a very good result but it’s not definite because we are going to a great stadium where the crowd will really get behind their team,’ he said after full time at the Nou Camp.

At the start of the season Messi was vocal in his desire to win the Champions League again, reports the Daily Mail..

Now his side are on the cusp of the final, but they were given a scare against the Reds, who pushed them hard despite the unflattering scoreline.

‘At the start we got drawn into their sort of very physical game and we are not used to it and that’s why we found it difficult at times early on,’ Messi continued.

‘It’s important that we did not concede. An away goal gives you so much.’

On scoring his 600th goal for the club with the jaw-dropping set-piece, he remarked: ‘It was a spectacular free-kick. I’m was so happy to see it go in.’

Photo Credit: fcbarcelona.com

Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has criticized the club’s fans who booed his team mate Philippe Coutinho following his match winning display against Liverpool in the Champions League semi final.

Coutinho was substituted after 60 minutes against his old club, as Ernesto Valverde looked to shore up his side by bringing on defender Nelson Semedo for the last half an hour.

Not for the first time this season, Coutinho was whistled by the home fans as he left the pitch, with some sections of the Camp Nou unhappy with his performance against Jurgen Klopp’s side – however Messi has defended the Brazilian international, Football Espana.

“This is a time when we need to be more united than ever. ]

“That includes both players and fans as we approach the end of the season.

“This is not a time to criticise anyone, and the whistles against Coutinho were ugly to hear.”

Messi reached 600 club goals with a spectacular late free kick for the home side, giving them a 3-0 advantage ahead of the return trip to Anfield next week .

However, Messi is mindful of the three goal lead they let slip from last season’s first leg against Roma.

Photo Image: fcbarcelona.com

Marseille striker Mario Balotelli has defended saying that Cristiano Ronaldo could not compare to Lionel Messi. “They’re the two best, but they’re not the same.”

Balotelli caused controversy when he made the comment during Barcelona’s 3-0 win against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals last night, and the Italy international went live on social media to justify himself.

“If we’re talking statistically, they’re the same,” explained the Olympique Marseille striker.

“But as someone who played against both, I can say that in my opinion Messi is out of this world, embarrassing. You can never get the better of him.

“In terms of quality, Messi is better than everyone. I’m convinced that if you ask a defender if they would rather play against Messi or Ronaldo, they would have no doubts.

“Messi and Ronaldo are two phenomena, true, but they’re not the same. If there was no Messi, Ronaldo would be the best in the world.

“I have a lot of respect for him, for how he trains, and it’s pleasure to watch him play and see how he managed to work on his body.

“Then people take it out on me and say I don’t know what I’m talking about… We’re talking about the two best players in the world.

“Ronaldo touched the ball three times against Atletico and scored three goals, but that’s his strength.

“Yesterday Messi decided the match against Liverpool. I leave the statistics to journalists, but it’s like comparing Maradona and Pele.

“Pele scored more goals than Maradona, but when Maradona touched the ball he was something else.”

Photo Credit: Olympique Marseille