We are just two games away from finding out who this year’s Europa League finalists are. Jose Mourinho’s Roma have a one-goal advantage over Bayer Leverkusen, with the Portuguese coach looking to reach his sixth European final as a manager.
In the other tie, Juventus and Sevilla couldn’t be separated in Turin, and record Europa League champions Sevilla are one game away from contending for their seventh triumph in this competition.
Here is everything you need to know about the second legs of these two semi-final contests.
Where: Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
When: Thursday 18 May
Kick-off: 8pm
TV: BT Sport 2
Betfred match odds: Sevilla 7/5, Juventus 2/1, Draw 11/5
Sportsman stat: Sevilla have never lost a two-legged tie in the Europa League knockout stages when playing at home in the second leg, progressing in nine such ties. They have also won 24 of their last 27 matches at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in the competition.
Juventus were able to rescue a draw late on in the first leg, with Federico Gatti finding the back of the net in the seventh minute of injury time to cancel out Youssef En-Nesyri’s first-half owner.
Both sides have all the experience needed to carry themselves into the final at the end of this month, with Juventus themselves having played in two Champions League finals in the last eight years.
Sevilla will feel confident in front of a raucous home crowd, supported by their incredible pedigree in this historic competition. Given Juventus’ European tradition, this tie is a huge test but one they will feel they can overcome.
Bayer Leverkusen v AS Roma (0-1)
Where: BayArena
When: Thursday 18 May
Kick-off: 8pm
TV: BT Sport 3
Betfred match odds: Bayer Leverkusen EVS, Roma 13/5, Draw 5/2
Sportsman stat: Bayer Leverkusen have only progressed from one of their last 11 two-legged ties in major European competition when losing the first leg, although that instance came earlier this season in the Europa League play-offs.
Roma have the advantage in this tie ahead of a huge second leg in Germany. Edoardo Bove’s second-half strike separates the two sides, with Mourinho getting one over on his former player Xabi Alonso in Rome.
Leverkusen dominated the possession but an old school Mourinho performance has the Italian side on the cusp of a second successive European final. You get the feeling that the hosts will need to score early to give themselves a chance because Mourinho knows exactly how to navigate his teams into European finals.
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