In search for the last two for the ongoing 2022/2023 UEFA Europa League Competition, the last four teams left are set to fight for the available slot
In search for the last two for the ongoing 2022/2023 UEFA Europa League Competition, the last four teams left are set to fight for the available slot in the final.
Starting is AS Roma taking on Bayern Leverkusen away from home as they look to reach the finals of the UEFA Europa League and attempt to correct the unwanted ‘Neverkusen’ tag, Bayer Leverkusen needs to overturn the 1-0 loss from the semi-final first leg against Roma. Coach Xabi Alonso indicated “nothing is lost” after their defeat in the Eternal City, but Die Werkself has fallen out of form at the wrong time, failing to win any of their last four matches.
A return to the BayArena should stoke the fire as Leverkusen have won five of their last seven home matches in all competitions. That loss did come in their last game here against Cologne, so Alonso’s men have work to do to get back on the winning trail, especially as they’ve lost all their last seven UEFA meetings against Italian sides, a run that needs to end here if they’re to reach a first European final since 2002. However, José Mourinho has guided his Roma side to the brink of a second European final in as many years, and the Giallorossi have a tremendous record of winning ten of their last 11 European ties following a 1-0 success in the first leg at home, he’ll certainly be confident of reaching this year’s final in Budapest. That lone exception did come against a Bundesliga club, but Mourinho will be more concerned about their failure to score in each of their last three European away ties, with both those defeats coming by a 1-0 scoreline.
Elsewhere in Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (Sevilla), Sevilla will take another step towards expanding their record haul of six UEFA Europa League titles with a critical 1-1 draw away to Juventus last week that gives them the upper hand in this second leg at home. They have the difficult task of trying to work their way back into La Liga’s European qualification places at the same time, an ambition boosted by their recent 3-0 weekend win away to Real Valladolid.
Whilst Sevilla boss José Luis Mendilibar described Juventus’ last-ditch equaliser as “a shame”, he was rapt with the effort in yet another drawn away leg following a 2-2 result against Manchester United in the quarter-finals. Whilst there’ll be no complacency from Mendilibar, Sevilla can bank on an almost perfect home record in all UEL football since 2018/19 with 15 wins and 2 draws that includes six clean sheets in the post-group stage phase. The weekend went entirely to script for Juventus boss Max Allegri, who was able to give some of his busiest players such as Filip Kostić, Manuel Locatelli and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny the entire night off in a comfortable 2-0 Serie A win at home to Cremonese. They now need just two points in their remaining three games to clinch a place in the next UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage, which should afford them the space to throw everything they have at this tie.
After losing all three UCL group stage away games earlier in the season, Juventus have appeared far more comfortable on their travels as a second-tier UEFA club, picking up two wins and a 1-1 draw at Sporting CP in their three UEL knockout away trips this season. Allegri gave nothing away about his potential lineup for this match, telling the media it will be a “last minute” decision based on physical condition.
By: Herosportgh.com/Solomon Duah (Sports Atom)
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