Never before in the Europa League knockout stages had a team recovered a four-goal deficit from the first leg and Brighton’s attempt to earn a place in the history books in their first European campaign fell short despite a valiant effort in the Sussex rain.
Roberto De Zerbi could not contain his disappointment on a frustrating evening in which Danny Welbeck gave the hosts a sliver of a chance with a brilliant goal just before half-time. Brighton’s manager spent most of the match prowling the touchline in the hope of inspiring the mother of all comebacks that never materialised.
