{"id":1342451,"date":"2024-02-22T22:50:43","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T22:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1342451"},"modified":"2024-02-22T22:50:43","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T22:50:43","slug":"europa-league-knockout-roundup-aubameyang-history-galatasaray","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/europa-league-knockout-roundup-aubameyang-history-galatasaray\/","title":{"rendered":"Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes history plus other stats and stories you might have missed from the Europa League"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Europa League knockout round playoffs came to a close on Thursday and there was a lot of action.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As always, the Europa League has to deal with Champions League dropouts, and for the third season running their was a split start to the knockout stages. With the eight Europa League group winners going straight to the last 16, the runners-up were drawn against the Champions League dropouts to make up the other eight spots.<\/p>\n

Of course, there were no British teams in action during this round, with West Ham, Brighton, Liverpool and Rangers all winning their respective groups. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t big names involved.<\/p>\n

So, what went down in the second legs? What were the big stories and were there any upsets? We’ve got you covered below.<\/p>\n

Benjamin Bourigeaud gives AC Milan a scare<\/h2>\n

Meet the Kylian Mbappe of the Europa League (kind of). AC Milan went into the second leg of their tie against Rennes 3-0 up and looking in total control, having dropped down from the Champions League. But in the end they were made to sweat for their spot in the last 16.<\/p>\n

Benjamin Bourigeaud was the man causing Milan the problems, twice putting Rennes ahead before being pegged back, and then completing his hat-trick. Two of those goals came from the penalty spot as Milan tried their best to knock themselves out, but Bourigeaud’s hat-trick would ultimately be in vain. Still, it was the first Europa League knockout stage hat-trick since this time last year, when Angel Di Maria bagged one against Nantes.<\/p>\n

\n

\u25ce 23 February 2023: \u00c1ngel Di Mar\u00eda scores a hat-trick against Nantes<\/p>\n

\u25c9 22 February 2024: Benjamin Bourigeaud scores a hat-trick against Milan<\/p>\n

Nearly exactly a year between the last two #UEL<\/a> hat-tricks in a knockout game. ?<\/p>\n

— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) February 22, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n