Sevilla 2-1(AET) Juventus: Sevilla has reached the final of the Europa League once again. On Thursday evening, José Luis Mendilibar’s team had the longest breath in a wear and tear against Juventus. In a blistering Estadio Rámon Sánchez Pizjuán it became 2-1 after extra time. The Spaniards now have to deal with AS Roma for their seventh title in the tournament.
Sevilla faces Mourinho in the final favorite tournament
Federico Gatti was the first to make a serious attempt on goal, his headbutt was nicely turned by Bono. In Andalusia, the home team came really close to the opening goal halfway through the first half. Lucas Ocampos came to a good head. Wojciech Szczesny needed an excellent reflex to prevent the ball from going over the line for more than half.
The party became more and more entertaining. A minute or two after Ocampos’ header, his compatriot in the Italian service, Ángel Di María, went alone for Bono, but the stylish lob that the wing attacker had in mind failed miserably. The attempt flew meters wide.
Second half
Then Moïse Kean was closer after more than half an hour, his effort ended up on the post behind a completely hopeless goalkeeper.
It remained fun viewing in Spain, barely a minute later Ivan Rakitic completed about fifty centimeters over the Italian goal from a promising position. Adrien Rabiot was the first to find the net, but the Frenchman was called back because he was just offside.
It took a substitute to open the scoring, albeit not just any substitute. Dusan Vlahovic, kept aside by Massimiliano Allegri, emerged after more than an hour, broke through the Sevilla defense with a stroke of luck and scored.
Vlahovic had apparently inspired Sevilla, because suddenly the home team also managed to score. Moreover, the goal was also there: Suso rammed the ball wonderfully behind Szczesny, it also took a lot to beat the Pole in this form. A second attempt by the attacking midfielder to beat the goalkeeper from a distance failed in the final phase, just as the keeper also had the last word in a mutual duel with Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Extra time
An extension was necessary, and it was quickly hit. Juventus let Sevilla cross too long and too easily, and now the team from Turin got the bill. Érik Lamela was accurate from the cross and gave the home team the lead. The resistance of Allegri’s men was thus more or less broken. Ten minutes before the end, referee Danny Makkelie gave Sevilla player Marcos Acuña a second yellow card for wasting time, although the leader seemed to be completely unaware that he had already given the Argentinian a ticket somewhere earlier in this marathon match.
Sour for the defender who now has to miss the final, because Sevilla is going to Budapest. Of course, Sevilla will go to Budapest, where they will play the final of their favorite tournament against Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma. There is one unbeaten series in the Hungarian capital: both Sevilla (six) and Mourinho (five) have never lost a European final.
