Europa League semifinals: What to look out for
An all-Italian final, a seventh success for Sevilla, and a first coaching coup for Xabi Alonso are all possibilities as the UEFA Europa League semifinals get underway.
Juventus take on six-time competition winners Sevilla, while José Mourinho’s Roma will face a Leverkusen side coached by one of his old charges as the UEFA Europa League semi-finals kick off.
In this piece presented by Enterprise, we pick out some key talking points ahead of the semi-final openers.
Semifinal first legs fixtures: 11 May 2023
– Juventus vs Sevilla
– Roma vs Leverkusen
Juve surfing the Italian new wave
“Competitiveness is in Juventus’s DNA,” Adrien Rabiot said after a typically tenacious performance saw off Arsenal’s conquerors Sporting CP in the last eight. Massimiliano Allegri’s side have not always dazzled – even if Ángel Di María remains a gem – but when the dust settles, they are still there.
The Bianconeri have not conceded from open play in five outings in the competition, the sort of statistic that Juve teams in the 1990s would have prided themselves on. Back then, Serie A clubs dominated Europe, and with five semi-finalists across the three men’s club competitions, Juve are riding the crest of another Italian wave this season. Where will they wash up?
Seven is the magic number for Sevilla
Timing is everything. Sevilla have had a difficult season, their wobbly domestic form precipitating two changes of coach and, for a while, raising genuine relegation fears. Yet they have seemingly found their feet again and a seventh success in this competition is now in sight.
José Luis Mendilibar’s side eliminated Manchester United in some style in the quarter-finals, and will not be overawed by Juve (though their record against the Italian outfit in Europe is not positive: W1 D1 L2). Mendilibar says he has simplified things at the club since taking charge and is living a dream of sorts: “I started in regional football and now we’re in the semis of the Europa League with a good team.” How good? Wait and see.
Roma out to upgrade their winners’ medals
The Giallorossi were a minute from elimination against Feyenoord in the last eight when Paulo Dybala cleverly spun and fired in to take the tie into extra time. There, with José Mourinho conducting things from the touchline, Roma ruthlessly put the contest to bed against tiring opponents.
Last season’s Europa Conference League winners can count on superb home form: they have lost just one of their last 25 European matches at the Stadio Olimpico. “We are acquiring a great winning mentality, which the coach is trying to pass on to us,” said forward Stephan El Shaarawy. “Last year the first trophy came, this year another semi-final…”
Leverkusen not too shabby under Xabi
Xabi Alonso was making his first tentative steps in management in 2019 when Mourinho tipped his former charge at Real Madrid to be every bit as successful as a coach as he was a player. The early signs are certainly promising as the pair prepare for a tussle of wits in the Europa League semi-finals.
READ ALSO: Super Falcons fear no foes at the World Cup – Plumptre
Appointed to his first senior role in October, Alonso oversaw a steady improvement at Leverkusen before grinding through the gears in the spring. The recent uptick has coincided with the return from long-term injury of 19-year-old Florian Wirtz, a creative midfielder not too unlike the Alonso Mourinho knew and loved. “The energy is good,” Alonso said. “Being in the semi-finals is great, but once you get there you want more.”
Where is the 2023 UEFA Europa League final being played?
The 2022/23 Europa League season will conclude at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on 31 May 2023.
Officially opened in 2019, the 65,000+ capacity ground stands on the site of the old Hungarian national team stadium, which was also named in honour of former Honvéd and Real Madrid forward Ferenc Puskás. The venue is located in the Zugló district of the Hungarian capital.