The first leg matches in the semifinals of the Europa League Europa League left action-packed duels. Here are all the details.
Juve Steals Tie
Federico Gatti scored with a header seven minutes into stoppage time to earn Juventus a 1-1 draw at home to Sevilla in the first leg challenge of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday.
Europa League kings Sevilla ignored the heavy rain and pressure from the Italian crowd at a packed Allianz Stadium to dominate the game and looked well on course to continue their bid for a record seventh title before Gatti's late effort left the tie evenly poised.
Sevilla started strongly and Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a great save to stop Youssef En-Nesyri's close-range header.
Lucas Ocampos missed a sitter for the visitors, but Moroccan striker En-Nesyri scored with a fine finish from close range in the 26th minute after a quick counter-attack led by Ocampos.
Sevilla could have extended their lead before the break, but En-Nesyri and Ocampos missed good chances and Szczesny thwarted a tremendous long-range shot from Ivan Rakitic with a superb diving save.
Undistinguished Juventus registered their first shot on target in the 65th minute when substitute Samuel Iling Junior tried his luck from distance with a tame shot that Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved with ease.
Juventus received energy from substitute Federico Chiesa, who is still recovering from a long injury lay-off, and equalized in the last play of the game.
Chiesa won a corner before Paul Pogba headed the ball into a crowded penalty area and Gatti leapt high to head home the equalizer.
🏟️🔥The draw against Juventus does not dampen the hopes of Sevilla and Sevilla fans, who are already preparing to dress the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in red next Thursday https://t.co/sGXqBu7Wom
- Diario AS (@diarioas) May 12, 2023
Rome Wins Triumph
AS Roma secured a 1-0 home win over Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday thanks to a second-half goal from 20-year-old Edoardo Bove.
Roma youth product Bove scored the winning goal on the rebound in the 63rd minute after Tammy Abraham's shot was saved by Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
The visitors came close to an equalizer towards the end of a difficult second half, but Jeremie Frimpong's shot in the 87th minute was blocked on the line.
Roma, who are aiming to win back-to-back European titles under coach Jose Mourinho after last season's Europa League triumph, will travel to Leverkusen next week for the second leg. The winner will face either Juventus or Sevilla in the final.
For the time being, Roma hope to count on the presence of Paulo Dybala and Georginio Wijnaldum in the second leg. In any case, the presence of both players would be key for the final duels.
