In this first Europa League semi-final, FC Sevilla were up against Manchester United and won in the final moments of the match (2-1). A victory that allows Julen Lopetegui’s men to reach the sixth final in their history in this competition
For the first Europa League semi-final, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United and Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla sided in what would be the final match of the 2019-2020 season for one of the two sides. Winner of the competition for the first time in its history during the 2016-2017 season and a final victory (2-0) against Ajax, the difficult faller of FC Copenhagen in the previous round hoped to repeat this performance this season. And of course it was a must win tonight to face the winner of the other semi-final between Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk in the final round. On the Andalusian side, a victory tonight allowed the five-time winner of the competition to take part in yet another final after a complicated course this season.
Indeed, Sevilla had been rather timid during this campaign, as evidenced by this statistics: seven of their ten European matches ended in a 0-0 at the break. Although they conceded only three goals, the Basque club’s players were clearly expected at the turn tonight to make the statistics lie. To do this, the Spanish tactician opted for a 4-3-3 composed of a central hinge made in Ligue 1 Kounde-Diego Carlos. Reguilon, whose name has been mentioned in the media in recent weeks, was also the starter on the left flank of the defence. The eternal Banega tried to replace the Suso-Ocampos-En Nesyri trio. On the Red Devils side, the Norwegian technician did not change his good habits by starting on a 4-3-3 also, with our Frenchies Pogba and Martial incumbents. The Greenwood revelation and the man of the moment Bruno Fernandes were also present.
Luuk de Jong wears hero costume
And the least we can say is that the last city and his partners were perfectly fit in their match. In the 9th minute of play, Rashford was mowed down in the penalty area by Diego Carlos, bringing a penalty serenely converted by one of the men in form on the Mancunian side, Bruno Fernandes (0-1). The players best entered in this match did not hesitate to push and were not far from taking off but on this action again well led by the Portuguese, Fred’s shot missed the goal (14th). But finally, in the course of the game, FC Sevilla came back into the game via Suso, well found on this low cross of Reguilon who, with a flat foot, propelled the leather into the back of the net (26th, 1-1). An equaliser that allowed the Andalusians to return to the locker room more serenely.
But the second act didn’t give them any reason. From the outset, the Red Devils were more than dangerous on several occasions, notably through a fiery-legged Anthony Martial tonight, far from giving his side the advantage on this quadruple occasion that neither the latter, nor Rashford, nor Bruno Fernandes, could conclude as surprising as it may seem (50th). The Sevilla, not far from cracking, nevertheless resisted the multiple onslaught of Mancunian attackers and even went looking for an unexpected victory in the last ten minutes. Well launched on his right side, Jesus Navas delivered a wonderful centre that arrived in the feet of a Luuk de Jong who pushed the ball into the back of the net (78th, 2-1). A very important goal that qualified FC Sevilla for the 6th final in its history in this competition, and why not a sixth victory in as much participation.
