AC Milan advance despite losing thriller, Roma among others to progress

Rennes were eliminated despite Benjamin Bourigeaud’s hat-trickAC Milan cemented their spot in Friday’s Europa League last-16 draw despite losing a thriller to Rennes.

Trailing 3-0 from the first leg in Italy, Rennes gave their fans hope of a memorable comeback when Benjamin Bourigeaud scored in the 11th minute.

AC Milan levelled on the night through Luka Jovic’s header before Bourigeaud’s penalty restored the home side’s lead.

The visitors equalised again through Rafael Leao before Bourigeaud completed his hat-trick with another penalty.

But it was not enough as AC Milan won the knockout round play-off tie 5-3 on aggregate.

Ex-Chelsea player Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who scored two goals in the first leg, came on as a substitute in the second half for AC Milan.

They will be unseeded in Friday’s draw, meaning they could meet one of several seeded British teams, including Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Rangers.

Elsewhere, Roma went through on penalties against Feyenoord.

With the tie locked at 2-2 after 120 minutes – both legs having finished 1-1 – keeper Mile Svilar saved two spot kicks as Roma won the shootout 4-2.

Azerbaijan’s Qarabag are through after defeating Sporting Braga 6-5 on aggregate – despite losing the second leg 3-2 on a dramatic night in Baku.

Nariman Akhundzade, 19, scored the all important goal for the hosts – reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute – in the 122nd minute.

After a goalless first leg, Freiburg came from 2-0 down at home to Lens to advance 3-2 after extra time, with Austria forward Michael Gregoritsch scoring a 99th-minute winner for the German club.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 34, and ex-Watford winger Ismaila Sarr scored as Marseille knocked out Shakhtar Donetsk, winning 3-1 for a 5-3 aggregate victory, while Sporting Lisbon,Sparta Prague and Benfica also booked their place in Friday’s draw.

Azerbaijan’s Qarabag will be unseeded, meaning they could meet one of several seeded British teams, including Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and RangersLine-upsRennesFormation 4-3-3

30Mandanda17DouéSubstituted forSeiduat 57’minutes23Omari5Theate3Truffert14Bourigeaud8SantamaríaSubstituted forMatusiwaat 57’minutes33DouéSubstituted forBlasat 71’minutes10GouiriBooked at 69minsSubstituted forYildirimat 84’minutes9Kalimuendo7TerrierSubstituted forSalahat 72’minutesSubstitutes1Gallon6Matusiwa11Blas15Wooh16Belocian34Salah36Seidu38Cissé39Lambourde40Lembet99YildirimAC MilanFormation 4-2-3-1

16MaignanBooked at 79mins42FlorenziSubstituted forTerraccianoat 84’minutes24KjærBooked at 53mins46Gabbia19Hernández4BennacerSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 61’minutes14Reijnders11PulisicSubstituted forChukwuezeat 61’minutes80MusahSubstituted forThiawat 80’minutes10Rafael LeãoSubstituted forOkaforat 61’minutes15JovicSubstitutes7Adli8Loftus-Cheek9Giroud17Okafor21Chukwueze28Thiaw38Terracciano57Sportiello81Eletu83Mirante84Nsiala-Makengo95BartesaghiMatch StatsLive TextMatch ends, Rennes 3, AC Milan 2.

Second Half ends, Rennes 3, AC Milan 2.

Corner, Rennes. Conceded by Tijjani Reijnders.

Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Malick Thiaw (AC Milan).

Foul by Azor Matusiwa (Rennes).

Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Alidu Seidu (Rennes).

Noah Okafor (AC Milan) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Ludovic Blas (Rennes) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Théo Hernández (AC Milan).

Attempt saved. Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ibrahim Salah.

Corner, Rennes. Conceded by Mike Maignan.

Attempt saved. Ibrahim Salah (Rennes) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Benjamin Bourigeaud.

Offside, AC Milan. Samuel Chukwueze is caught offside.

Substitution, AC Milan. Filippo Terracciano replaces Alessandro Florenzi.

Substitution, Rennes. Bertug Yildirim replaces Amine Gouiri.

Corner, Rennes. Conceded by Alessandro Florenzi.

Substitution, AC Milan. Malick Thiaw replaces Yunus Musah.

Foul by Azor Matusiwa (Rennes).