Friday’s briefing: United held as Tottenham go down and Rangers win

Manchester United led through Joshua Zirkzee in their Europa League last-16 first leg against Real Sociedad before a penalty saw them have to be content with a 1-1 draw.

Tottenham were beaten away against AZ Alkmaar thanks to a comical Lucas Bergvall own goal, and Rangers impressed as they defeated Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 3-1 in Istanbul.

In the Conference League, Chelsea emerged with a lead from their first leg at Copenhagen, winning 2-1.

United held

Having showed the greater attacking threat, United – who had 11 first-team players unavailable – went ahead in Spain in the 57th minute when Zirkzee fired in from the edge of the box.

The subsequent equaliser, 13 minutes later, came via VAR as Bruno Fernandes was penalised for handball.

Mikel Oyarzabal struck the resulting penalty past Andre Onana, and the hosts were then on top as it ended all square.

United boss Ruben Amorim said he felt the team were “really tired” in the final 20 minutes, and agreed with Zirkzee’s assessment that they need to be “relentless” when they have chances.

Bergvall blunder

Tottenham will have to come from behind to advance from their last-16 tie after an unfortunate moment for Bergvall early on in the contest in the Netherlands.

The teenager inadvertently looped the ball into his own net in the 18th minute as he sliced an attempted clearance.

It was part of a lacklustre display from Spurs, who did not register a shot on target until the 88th minute, and boss Ange Postecoglu afterwards said it was “nowhere near the level it needed to be”.

Rampant Rangers

Playing their third match under interim boss Barry Ferguson following Philippe Clement’s sacking, Rangers produced a superb performance in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium that included a brace from Vaclav Cerny.

Cyriel Dessers put the visitors in front with a sixth-minute strike before Alexander Djiku levelled on the half-hour mark.

The Gers subsequently regained the lead just before half-time when Dessers set up Cerny.

And after Dessers had two efforts disallowed for offside early in the second half, Cerny then added his second late in the contest.

Chelsea claim narrow advantage

With the first half of the match in Denmark having seen Chelsea largely fail to trouble Copenhagen, boss Enzo Maresca made a triple substitution at the interval.

The Blues then grabbed the lead in the opening minute of the second half courtesy of Reece James and Enzo Fernandez, one of those introduced at the break, made it 2-0 in the 65th minute.

The home side reduced the deficit with 11 minutes of normal time to go as Gabriel Pereira headed past Robert Sanchez.

What’s on today?

The Scottish Cup quarter-finals get under way as Hearts welcome Dundee to Tynecastle.

There is also action in the Championship, with Norwich, four points outside the play-off places, hosting an Oxford outfit who have lost each of their last three matches and are seven points above the relegation zone.