EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS

EUROPA LEAGUE:  I caught the Europa league games this evening and both results were surprising and have culminated in the opposite of my dream final.

JUVENTUS 0-0 BENFICA (Benfica win 2-1 on aggregate)

Rightly deserved

Juventus came up against a resolute Benfica side that were inspired by recent Chelsea displays.

The set up by the Bianconeri is overly dependent on Pirlo’s vision and the incursions of Lichtsteiner and Vidal. Nullify that and you get the better of Juventus. This is the reason for their absence from the top echelon of European teams.

It is clear that Ezequiel Garay should now move on to a bigger club as his role for Benfica during the season has merited it.

It is particularly pleasing that after the heart wrenching end to last season, Benfica picked themselves up and are on course for a quadruple. Jorge Jesus is the character behind this and he must be applauded. They will now feel familiar with the terrain when they return to Turin for the FINAL.

VALENCIA 3-1 SEVILLA (3-3, Sevilla go through on the away goals rule)

M'bia to the fore.

Football can be cruel. It was so on this day to Valencia. The third most supported club in Spain were well on the way to the final after displaying urgency at the origin of the game.

At 3-0 up, the game looked cut and dry, but it is often that such a situation causes conflict in a coach’s mind. Do we attack to score the fourth? Or can we hold on?

Juan Antonio Pizzi’s message to his team was to stall the opposition. That decision has brought his team and their supporter’s sadness as Stephane M’bia was on hand to score in the 4^th minute of injury time for Sevilla.

Make no mistake, Sevilla were poor yesterday. But they have eliminated the top scoring team in the UEFA Europa league and thus logic dictates that they deserve their current situation.

Sevilla manager Unai Emery could barely control himself on the touchline. He was harshly treated while at the Mestalla and this was his moment to say “I am stronger now”. He shares different values to Fernando Torres surely.

BENFICA and SEVILLA will square up at the TURIN STADIUM come may 14^th. May the best team prevail.

Europa League Trophy