Juventus avoided defeat in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals as Federico Gatti scored a crucial equalizer deep into stoppage time, resulting in a 1-1 draw against Sevilla on Thursday.
In Turin, Gatti headed in the equalizing goal in the seventh minute of added time, revitalizing Juventus’ hopes of clinching a European trophy after a prolonged dry spell.
Although Juventus previously won the competition three times when it was called the UEFA Cup, with the most recent victory in 1993, they must now win the second leg next week to have a shot at claiming their first European title since their Champions League triumph in 1996.
Sevilla, a six-time winner of the Europa League, demonstrated once again why they are strong contenders for the trophy. Youssef En-Nesyri broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a clinical finish on a deadly counterattack, marking his 18th goal in all competitions.
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Unfortunately, the visitors faced a setback when Lucas Ocampos, who had several goal attempts, had to be substituted due to an injury in the 34th minute.
Sevilla had another notable opportunity, but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny managed to tip Ivan Rakitić’s shot over the crossbar.
While Ángel Di María provided some pressure for Juventus earlier in the match, it was Sevilla who struck first.
It’s worth noting that Sevilla has never lost a semifinal in this competition, further highlighting their strength as a formidable team.
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In their semifinal clash, Roma secured a 1-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen, keeping their hopes alive for consecutive European titles.
Led by manager José Mourinho, who guided the team to victory in the inaugural Europa Conference League last year, Roma maintained the upper hand at Stadio Olimpico.
The decisive goal came in the 63rd minute when Edoardo Bove, a 20-year-old midfielder, scored his first European goal. Bove capitalized on a rebound, striking the ball with his left foot after goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky saved Tammy Abraham’s initial attempt.
During the first half, Hradecky’s impressive save prevented a close-range header from Roger Ibañez, keeping Leverkusen in the game.
Despite a chance to equalize after a mistake by Roma goalkeeper Rui Patrício, Jeremie Frimpong failed to convert, missing a clear opportunity for Leverkusen.
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