Spanish clubs find their European feet again
Ponferrada advanced in the Champions League, Getafe won away in the Europa League and Leganés beat NK Olimpija Ljubljana in the Conference League.
Two wins and a draw across Europe this week brought three very different kinds of encouragement: Ponferrada are through, Getafe have work still to finish, and Leganés made their mark with a clean, convincing victory.
Ponferrada’s 1-1 draw at FC Internazionale Milano on Wednesday was enough to carry them through the Champions League last 16, 2-1 on aggregate. They had already beaten the Italians 1-0, and this time held their nerve away from home.
Getafe beat OGC Nice 2-1 on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League tie. The return is at Getafe on 20 March, so the job is only half done. Juan José, now with Ponferrada, once spent two seasons at Getafe, winning a trophy there; a small Spanish thread running through a week when our clubs finally gave the country something to cheer.
Leganés beat NK Olimpija Ljubljana 2-0 in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
Spain’s three results in Europe this week were two wins, one draw and no defeats.