Scores Rennes en direct
21 November 2011 | à 11h15

Europa League: Udinese fall, Celtic and Madrid win

Europa League: Udinese fall, Celtic and Madrid win

Just like Stade Rennais, most teams of Europa League’s group I had a great week-end, to the notable exception of Udinese.

Although the most performant of all four teams in its domestic league since the beginning of the season, the team from Friuli fell on the pitch of Parma this Sunday afternoon (0-2). With his usual starting XI, Francesco Guidolin was absolutely powerless, just as a month ago in Napoli (0-2).
After a goalless first half, Parma hit twice, first through Frenchman Jonathan Biabany (58’), before making the decision with a penalty converted by Giovinco (76’). Leading the league before this twelfth game week, Udinese have suddenly collapsed in fourth place, overtaken by the Juventus, Lazio and Milan AC. Fair Play, Guidolin admitted that the team from Parma deserve its success: “Parma made the difference by playing with more humility than us”, the Italian manager explained.

The team against Parma : Handanovic - Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi (Pasquale, 86’) - Basta, Isla (Torje, 65’), Pinzi, Asamoah (Battocchio, 83’), Armero - Floro Flores, Di Natale.

After its latest humiliating defeat in Getafe (2-3) the Atlético Madrid went back to winning ways at home against Levante (3-2), the former Liga leader. The Colchoneros took their time before giving life to the game, resulting in five goals in the final half hour.
Without Falcao (injured), it is the entrance of Reyes which finally changed the face of the game. After five minutes on the pitch, the former Spain international ripped through the opposition’s defence to offer Pizzi the opening goal (68’). Although Levante equalised soon after through Xavi Torres (71e), Atlético built its victory by scoring twice through Youngster Adrian (74’) and Brazilian playmaker Diego (82’). Levante could only reduce the lead during injury time through Rubén (90’+2)
With this success, the Madrid club is back in ninth position in the league, just one point behind European places, but seven points behind the fourth qualifying spot for the Champions League. Next week-end, Manzano’s side will have their work cut out when travelling to the ground of their fierce rival, Real Madrid.

The team against Levante : Courtois - Silvio (Perea, 57’), Miranda, Dominguez, Filipe - Mario Suarez, Tiago (Pizzi, 46’) - Salvio (Reyes, 63’), Diego, Turan - Adrian.

Finally, Celtic Glasgow continued their revival by reducing the gap between them and the Rangers in the league. The latter were held on to a draw in Saint-Johnstone (0-0), and the Bhoys made the most of this result by beating Inverness (2-0). Celtic profited of the dismissal of an Inverness player at the end of the first half to make the most of its domination after the break.
In the second half, two goals by Anthony Stokes (61’ et 72’) offered an easy victory to the Celtic.

The team against Inverness : Forster - Matthews, Majstorovic, El Kaddouri (McCourt, 69’), Ledley - Kayal, Wanyama, Forrest (Commons, 81’) - Stokes, Samaras (Ki, 55’), Hooper.