MADRID/BERLIN – Sevilla and AS Roma booked tickets into the UEFA Europa League season 2022/23 final on 31st May at Budapest, Hungary.
Sevilla drew 1-1 against Juventus after 90 minutes in the semi final second leg at home last night, dragging the game into extra time.
The Spanish club then received the deciding goal in the 95th minute from Erik Lamela through a brilliant header, sending Le Zebre home with aggregate 3-2.
The six times UEL winner will appear in the final for their seventh time. The “King of Europa” won their past six finals.
They eliminated Manchester United in the quarter final this season, making them the top favourite of champions this year.
Results Europa League : Roma eliminate Leverkusen
In another semi final, AS Roma showed unbreakable defence at BayArena, sealing Bayer Leverkusen’s goal to a 0-0 draw in the second leg and marched into the final with aggregate 1-0.
Team manager Jose Mourinho put the Italian club in a total defence tactic, gathered his squad on the back court most of the game time last night, blocking the German club’s attack like a solid wall.
With a huge difference on the statistics, including 1 shots over 23 and ball possession rate of 28% over 72%, the Portuguese was still able to bring the Red Wolves to maintain the only goal advantage they gained at home last week.
“The Special One” again proved his ability and experience in European competitions, beating the opponent coached by Xabi Alonso, his former player during his Real Madrid era.
Results Europa League : Mourinho Vs King of Europa
Now, Mourinho and AS Roma are one step away from the championship of the European second tier’s tournament.
They hold a chance to hail an European event’s title for two consecutive seasons. The Red Wolves won the Europa Conference League last year by beating Feyenoord 1-0 in the final.
The battle between Roma and Sevilla two weeks after will see a contest between the master of European events and the King of Europa.
Mourinho won all the five finals of European competitions he participated before, including two UEFA Champions League finals by coaching Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.
He had also led Manchester United to lift the Europa League trophy in 2017, and brought Porto a UEFA Cup in 2003.
The Portuguese seeks to use his experience in those finals to fight Sevilla, which won all the six UEL finals before.
UEFA UEL finals revealed
Meanwhile, the UEFA Champions League final will be played on 10th June at Istanbul, Turkey.
Manchester City and Inter Milan will pursue the highest glory in the continent.
The Blue Moons knocked Real Madrid out in the semi final with 5-1 aggregate, including an epic 4-0 victory over the fourteen times UCL winner at Etihad Stadium.
Internazionale eliminated their derby rival, AC Milan with aggregate 3-0.
Pep Guardiola desires to lead the Blue Moons to earn their first ever Champions League trophy in club history, by beating the three times winner next month.