Sevilla is on course to win their third consecutive European title after snatching a 2-2 draw in their first leg against Shakhtar Donetsk thanks to a late penalty; Villarreal scores with the last kick of the game to overcome Liverpool in the other semi-final.
Not since the mighty Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid, Leeds United, and Saint-Etienne, in the early 1970s has a team won three European trophies on the spin.
That might be about to change after Sevilla came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw in their first leg of the Europa League Semi-Final away to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Machin Perez put the visitors ahead in the sixth minute, but Donetsk came back fighting. A 23rd-minute equaliser from Marlos and a 35th-minute header from Taras Stepanenko sent them into the break with a two-goal lead. The tie seemed to be going the way of the Ukrainian Premier League team until in the 82nd minute when Facundo Ferreyra brought Vitolo down in the box, and Kevin Gameiro stepped up to equalise from the spot.
Those two away goals will be vital, especially as Sevilla have won 14 of their 18 La Liga games at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. The Ukrainian side are no mugs having won this title in 2009, but they are going to have to pull off something special if they are going to be heading to Basle on May 18.
Villarreal 1 v 0 Liverpool
If Sevilla does get to the final, they could be facing familiar competition after Villarreal winded Liverpool with a late sucker punch at the Estadio El Madrigal.
It was an emotional night for Liverpool after the ‘unlawful killing verdict’ at the inquest into the 96 lives who perished on that terrible day in Hillsborough some 27-years ago. In a beautiful token of solidarity, Villarreal fans unfurled a giant banner that read, ’96 You’ll Never Walk Alone.’
It was the team who call themselves The Yellow Submarine competing against the city that produced the band who wrote the bloody song. It was Liverpool’s 17th appearance in a major European Semi-Final, their fifth in this competition, the last coming with a defeat at the hand of Atletico Madrid back in 2010.
On the other hand, Villarreal is the baby of the last four. They are the only side left that has never won a European competition. They have reached this stage of the Europa League twice before losing in 2004 & 2011.
But both teams came into this tie on the back of an excellent run of form in this competition. Villareal has not lost in their last 11 games in, including winning all six of their home games. Liverpool has not lost in 12, winning five and drawing seven.
With Divock Origi missing through injury, Jurgen Klopp surprised everyone by sticking Firmino up front and leaving Daniel Sturridge on the bench. You get the sense that the German doesn’t fancy the England man, and the same can be said of Christian Benteke, who also started on the bench. Kolo Toure – a man, once banned for taking an illegal drug – came in to replace Mamadou Sakho – another man currently banned after taking an illegal drug.
Villarreal came into the match without a win in three. Liverpool was unbeaten in seven. Spurs reject Roberto Soldado nearly put Villarreal ahead before half-time when he whizzed a shot past the right-hand post with Simon Mignolet well beaten.
Then a minute into the second half Cedric Bakambu headed against the crossbar from a corner kick. Liverpool’s best chance fell to Firmino when his shot was tipped onto the post by Sergio Asenjo in the 65th minute, and Bakambu nearly sealed it three minutes from time only for Mignolet to pull off a magnificent save to prevent his shot going into the bottom left-hand corner.
Then with time running out, Denis Suarez was too quick for Kolo Toure. He chased down a lob over the top. Adrian Lopez left three Liverpool players in his wake as he surged into the box, and Suarez pulled Mignolet to him like a magnet before squaring it to Lopez to put the ball into the empty net.
It won’t be easy for Villarreal at Anfield, as Dortmund found to their peril, but the fact that they stopped Liverpool scoring an away goal, and pinched one of their own, may prove crucial.
Europa League Winner (Odds Courtesy of Bodog)
Sevilla +140
Villareal +225
Liverpool +250
Shakhtar Donetsk +900
