Italian and Spanish soccer giants – Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma and Jose Luis Mendilibar’s Sevilla – are in battle royale to grab the prestigious Europa league cup to be played in Puskás Aréna in Budapest on 31 May, 2023.
On the other hand, Erik Lamela propelled Europa League specialists Sevilla into the final once again with a 2-1 victory over Juventus on Thursday, sealing a 3-2 aggregate triumph in a gripping clash.
It is now back-to-back European finals for Roma who beat Feyenoord to win the inaugural Europa Conference League last season.
In Spain, Sevilla would be hoping for a record-extending seventh title in the Europa League when they face Roma.
Roma remain on track for a second European trophy in two seasons, after a 0-0 draw at Bayer Leverkusen sent them through 1-0 on aggregate on Thursday.
AS Roma, the Europa Conference League holders, created little in attack but defended doggedly, as the increasingly frustrated home side peppered their goal in search of an equaliser.
The visitors held on through eight minutes of added time and will face either Juventus or Sevilla in the final in Budapest in late May.
Roma came into the game holding onto a narrow 1-0 lead, thanks to a second-half goal from Rome-born midfielder Edoardo Bove in the first leg.
Mourinho, known for his defensive tactics, has stayed true to form this Europa League season, with the Europa Conference League holders conceding just three goals in eight knockout games on the way to the final.
Leverkusen, who have beaten Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig at home this season, started brighter, with 20-year-old creator Florian Wirtz pulling the strings in midfield.
Wirtz linked with France forward Moussa Diaby after 12 minutes and the Paris Saint-Germain junior rattled the crossbar.
The same combination linked again ten minutes later, Diaby heading just wide.
Iran striker Sardar Azmoun was pulled down on the counter on the edge of the box with the first-half winding down but the referee waved the incident away despite the protests of the home players.
Lekerkusen’s Spanish coach Xabi Alonso brought on French winger Amine Adli and the French winger almost created the equaliser, finding Azmoun in the box — but the Iranian dragged his shot just wide.
With the clock winding down, the home fans became increasingly incensed with the visitors’ stalling tactics, resulting in eight minutes of added time.
As the full-time whistle went, an elated Mourinho went directly to the visiting fans, shaking the net.
For Roma, who are six points off fourth spot in Serie A with three games to play, the victory not only means a shot at a maiden Europa League title, but a chance at making next year’s Champions League.
Despite the elimination, Leverkusen’s short term looks bright, with Alonso, who has lifted Leverkusen from the relegation spots to a European semi-final since taking over late last year, declaring he would be at the BayArena next season.
Meanwhile, Lamela headed home in extra-time to complete an impressive comeback for the record six-time winners of the competition, who will face Jose Mourinho’s Roma in Budapest on May 31 after they edged past Bayer Leverkusen.
Dusan Vlahovic fired visitors Juventus ahead in the second half, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, but Suso smashed home from outside the area to take the game to extra-time.
Lamela connected perfectly with Bryan Gil’s cross in the 95th minute to delight the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, and Sevilla held on to reach the final for the first time since 2020.
“A lot of things went through my head, good moments, bad moments. It was a unique moment,” Lamela told Movistar.
“Now we are a step away, it’s a great opportunity. It’s a night I will remember forever, it’s something incredible to play here, in front of all these fans.”
Juventus failed to set up an all-Italian final against Roma, but Italy still has with one representative in each of the three European finals.
Jose Luis Mendilibar’s team, who saw off Manchester United in the quarter-finals, showed their desire to again succeed in a competition which they have dominated in the past decade, with four triumphs in the previous nine editions.
Youssef En-Nesyri, who struck for Sevilla in the first leg, was denied by Szczesny in the 90th minute, stretching to tip his header over.
However, the Polish goalkeeper could not keep Lamela’s header out, with the Argentine midfielder nodding home Bryan Gil’s cross in the fifth minute of extra-time.
Marcos Acuna was sent off for Sevilla after 115 minutes, leaving the hosts hanging on, but they dug deep to extend their Europa League legend and book their ticket to Budapest.
“Being with your childhood team, living each game and another final now, is incredible, and you have to enjoy it,” said veteran Sevilla defender Jesus Navas.
“The team was impressive, we gave everything, and the fans, they deserve everything.”
(AFP)
