Lucas Paqueta scored for Olympique Lyonnais as the French team triumphed at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto. In an otherwise even game, Lyon scored the only goal but left the hosts frustrated after their penalty claim fell on deaf ears despite a very strong argument indeed.The Frech team continues to be supremely unpredictable. They produced a solid display just when even their own fans expected a defeat in Portugal. But thanks to a team display, a few saves from their goalkeeper Anthony Lopes to deny Pepe and Vitinha in the first half, Les Lyonnais snatched a good result to take back home for the return leg.Lucas Paquetá’s game by numbers vs. Porto:100% shot accuracy73 touches38 passes11 duels won7 take-ons attempted7 passes into the final ⅓5 tackles made4 ball recoveries3 take-ons completed2 clearances2 fouls won2 shots1 goalPure class. #UEL pic.twitter.com/UkRIlefHdg— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 9, 2022 And of course, you can’t deny credit to Lucas Paqueta. Although tonight’s goal wasn’t spectacular by his standards but they all count – and this one would only draw more attention from clubs looking to recruit the former AC Milan flop.The main talking point for the blue and whites will surely be the penalty that was awarded and then retracted by VAR five minutes after the restart. And it was Paqueta who thought he was the culprit. The ball struck his arm in the box, but although the referee initially awarded the spot-kick, he denied the home team the chance to level after checking video evidence.Defender Chancel Mbemba thought he gave Porto a leveller in injury time, but his goal was denied after another VAR intervention due to an offside in the build-up. Porto fans will be raging at match officials and VAR technology tonight, but Lyon won’t mind.This team. 🖤What a performance on the road! 🦅 pic.twitter.com/TMnj0UBJmm— Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_us) March 9, 2022 In the other game of the night, German team Eintracht Frankfurt claimed an impressive 2-1 win over La Liga’s in-form side Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarin. Filip Kostic gave the Germans the lead before former Lyon man Nabil Fekir levelled with a fine solo goal. However, Frankfurt’s Japan international Daichi Kamada restored the lead and tormented the hosts all night. Manuel Pellegrini’s team can thank their goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for keeping them in the game as he kept a Rafael Borre penalty out in the second half.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE – 1/8 FINALSWednesdayReal Betis – Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 (1-2)/Fekit 30 – Kostic 14, Kamada 32/Porto – Lyon 0-1 (0-0)/Paqueta 59/Thursday20.45: (2.15) Sevilla (3.25) West Ham (3.90)23.00: (1.80) Rangers (3.60) Crvena Zvezda (5.10)23.00: (3.00) Braga (3.15) Monaco (2.65)23.00: (2.05) Atalanta (3.60) Leverkusen (3.80)23.00: (1.15) Barcelona (9.00) Galatasaray (22.0)***odds are subject to change
