The identity of those who advance to the Europa League final will be determined tonight (Thursday) at the end of the return matches in the semi-final stage: Bayer Leverkusen will return home and try to erase a minimal deficit against Roma, while Sevilla will hope to celebrate qualification in their stadium at the expense of Juventus.
The Europa League final will be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, on May 31. The winner will automatically qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.
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1st half: Bayer Leverkusen – Roma 0:0 (0:1 to Roma in the first match)
With only one win in the last five rounds, Xavi Alonso’s team knows that through the Bundesliga they can qualify at most for the Conference League, so the Europa League is a last chance for them to get a ticket to a higher establishment next season. Star Florian Wirtz, who has three goals and two assists in the knockout stages of the Europa League this season, returned to the squad after coming off the bench in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Stuttgart, while Robert Andrich was absent after picking up an injury in the previous meeting with Roma. Leverkusen went through two stages in the Europa League this season after failing to win the first of two games, and will hope to do the same tomorrow.
Jose Mourinho and his players are also faltering in Serie A and have not won in five rounds, which could leave them out of the European frameworks next season if they do not win this enterprise. Roma, who are hoping to reach the European finals for a second consecutive season under Mourinho after winning the Conference League last year, have not scored in their last three away games on the international stage. The stopper Chris Smalling has not yet recovered from injury and remains on the bench, along with Paulo Dybala. Mourinho placed two strikers in the squad – Tammy Avraham and Andrea Bellotti.
12th minute: Diaby ran into the box and from 14 meters shot into the crossbar.
21st minute: Demirbay kicked a strong and flat ball from 20 meters, Rui Patricio deflected.
1st half: Sevilla – Juventus 0:0 (1:1 in the first match)
Not only the fact that they did not lose in Turin gives the Andalusians a boost, but also the fact that Sevilla have never ended a double match in the knockout stages of the Europa League by elimination when the second match is held at home – the balance is 9 from 9. Coach Jose Mandeliver returned to the 11 of the factory queen (six wins in total, of which two in the old UEFA Cup format) goalkeeper Yassin Bono and striker Youssef An-Nasiri who rested 0:3 against Valladolid in the league three days ago, and will benefit from his services of Lucas Ocampos who started after missing that game with a muscle injury.
Juventus comes after a 0:2 victory over Cremona in the Italian league, and will be missing Paul Pogba who was injured in that game. Massimiliano Allegri came up with a fairly young team that includes, among others, Federico Gatti, Niccolò Pajoli and Samuel Ealing Jr. Angel Di Maria in the 11th, and Moises Kane was preferred at the expense of Dushan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik.
Minute 15: Gatti rose above everyone for a corner kick, hit powerfully and Bono stretched his limbs and headed.
24th minute: Ocampos struck while diving for a corner, but Szczesny flew and headed for the corner. Half a ball crossed the line, but not all of it. Amazing save by the Polish goalkeeper.
27th minute: Rabio put Di Maria in front of Bono with a brilliant deep ball, but the Argentine tried to bounce and sent the ball into the stands.
29th minute: Akonya bombed from outside the box towards the posts, which Chesney was again in place to push away for a corner.
33rd minute: Ken overcame Bada and from a difficult angle he flat-footed the far post.
