Lamela fires Sevilla to victory over Juventus into Europa League final

Sevilla's Argentinian forward Erik Lamela (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League semifinal second leg football match between Sevilla FC and Juventus at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on Thursday. (AFP)
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Updated 19 May 2023
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Lamela fires Sevilla to victory over Juventus into Europa League final

  • Lamela headed home in extra-time to complete an impressive comeback Sevilla, who will face Jose Mourinho’s Roma in Budapest on May 31

SEVILLE, SPAIN: Erik Lamela propelled Europa League specialists Sevilla into the final once again with a 2-1 victory over Juventus on Thursday, sealing a 3-2 aggregate triumph in a gripping clash.

Lamela headed home in extra-time to complete an impressive comeback for the record six-time winners of the competition, who will face Jose Mourinho’s Roma in Budapest on May 31 after they edged past Bayer Leverkusen.

Dusan Vlahovic fired visitors Juventus ahead in the second half, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, but Suso smashed home from outside the area to take the game to extra-time.

Lamela connected perfectly with Bryan Gil’s cross in the 95th minute to delight the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, and Sevilla held on to reach the final for the first time since 2020.

“A lot of things went through my head, good moments, bad moments. It was a unique moment,” Lamela told Movistar.

“Now we are a step away, it’s a great opportunity. It’s a night I will remember forever, it’s something incredible to play here, in front of all these fans.”

Defeat is concerning for Juventus, who are second in Serie A but braced for a potential points deduction which could knock them out of the top four. Winning the Europa League would have been another route to Champions League qualification.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side, without the injured Paul Pogba, were significantly better than in the first leg but were eventually overcome by the resilient hosts.

Sevilla, who dominated in Turin but were pegged back at the death in the 1-1 draw, shaded the first half at home but Juventus threatened on the counter in a pulsating battle.

Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny produced a superb save to claw out a Lucas Ocampos header at his near post.

At the other end his counterpart Yassine Bounou produced an equally strong fingertip stop to tip a Moise Kean effort onto the post.

Adrien Rabiot struck for Juventus but Manuel Locatelli was offside and it was disallowed.

Sevilla were fuming before halftime when Juan Cuadrado sliced down Oliver Torres on the edge of the box and no penalty was awarded by VAR, despite replays indicating the foul began in the area.

Juventus could have taken the lead early in the second half but Rabiot flashed a shot narrowly wide.

Gleison Bremer’s header scraped the outside of the post as the Italians pushed harder to break the deadlock.

Shortly after replacing Kean, Vlahovic made Juventus’ pressure count as he burst away from two Sevilla defenders and dinked the ball neatly past Bounou.

However, Sevilla substitute Suso levelled from outside the area, carving out some space before launching a rocket into the top corner.

Jose Luis Mendilibar’s team, who saw off Manchester United in the quarterfinals, showed their desire to again succeed in a competition which they have dominated in the past decade, with four triumphs in the previous nine editions.

Youssef En-Nesyri, who struck for Sevilla in the first leg, was largely kept quiet by Juventus but popped up in the 90th minute, with Szczesny stretching to tip his header over.

However, the Polish goalkeeper could not keep Lamela’s header out, with the Argentine midfielder nodding home Bryan Gil’s cross in the fifth minute of extra-time.

Marcos Acuna was sent off for Sevilla after 115 minutes, leaving the hosts hanging on, but they dug deep to extend their Europa League legend and book their ticket to Budapest.

“Being with your childhood team, living each game and another final now, is incredible, and you have to enjoy it,” said veteran Sevilla defender Jesus Navas.

“The team was impressive, we gave everything, and the fans, they deserve everything.”
 


Manchester United stun leaders Arsenal to open up Premier League title race

Updated 25 January 2026
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Manchester United stun leaders Arsenal to open up Premier League title race

  • United’s win, their first in the league at Arsenal since 2017, lifted them to fourth

LONDON: Manchester United loosened Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League title race with a 3-2 win in north London on Sunday thanks to stunning second-half goals by Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha.
Victory would have restored Arsenal’s seven-point lead over chasers ​Manchester City and Aston Villa, both of whom won this weekend, but Mikel Arteta’s side instead left the door open as they lost at home for the first time this season.
United’s win, their first in the league at Arsenal since 2017, lifted them to fourth, and while they are not in the title equation themselves, it fueled the new-found optimism sweeping the club since Michael Carrick stepped in as interim coach.
Everything was going to plan for Arsenal when they took the lead in the 29th minute ‌with a ‌Lisandro Martinez own goal.
But a terrible mistake by Martin Zubimendi ‌in ⁠the ​37th ‌minute gifted United an equalizer for Bryan Mbeumo.
Dorgu then smashed a ferocious shot in off the crossbar to put United ahead in the 50th minute but substitute Mikel Merino prodded the hosts level in the 84th.
United were not finished though and substitute Cunha was allowed to advance toward Arsenal’s goal before curling a low shot past the dive of David Raya from 25 meters to spark wild celebrations among the visiting fans.
Arsenal, who are now winless in ⁠three league games after two 0-0 draws, have 50 points from 23 games with City and Villa on 46. ‌United moved fourth with 38 points.
United’s win followed their 2-0 ‍defeat of Manchester City last weekend ‍in Carrick’s first game of his second spell as the club’s interim manager.
The nerves ‍are clearly starting to show at Arsenal as they seek their first title since 2004.
Even after Martinez got his legs in a tangle and deflected Martin Odegaard’s shot past his own keeper, Arsenal never looked completely at ease and slowly lost control of the game.
The omens still looked bad ​for United at that stage with Arsenal having won their last 15 Premier League games in which they had taken the lead.
But when William ⁠Saliba passed to Zubimendi who in turn gifted the ball straight to Mbeumo to score in style, the visitors suddenly sensed an opportunity.
Things took a dark turn for Arsenal five minutes after the interval. Again their defense was found wanting as Dorgu was allowed to control a bouncing ball before thumping a left-foot volley in off the crossbar past a stunned Raya.
Arteta reacted by making four substitutions, sending on Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Ben White while Noni Madueke also joined the fray later from a stacked bench.
There was huge relief when United failed to deal with a corner and Merino prodded in from close range — the ball being adjudged to have crossed the line after a brief delay.
It looked ‌as though Arsenal had got out of jail and might even snatch a win but United’s belief was unwavering as Cunha delivered a gift to City and Villa.