While Manchester City and Chelsea will compete for the winning trophy in the Champions League, in the European League, unlike last year, there will be no purely English final.
The culmination of the second most prestigious competition will be provided by Manchester United and Villarreal footballers. In retaliation for the semifinals, the Spanish team drew on the field of the conqueror of Prague’s Slavia Arsenal without goals and advanced 2: 1 after the home victory. Although Manchester lost in Rome with AS 2: 3, after the initial high win of 6: 2 from last week, he watched the participation in the final with an overview.
Manchester United advanced to the finals for the eighth time in history in the European Cups and will strive for the sixth championship. The last time United played for the winning trophy was four years ago, when they triumphed in the European League under the leadership of José Mourinh.
Villarreal, on the other hand, is waiting for the final premiere in European cups. The coach of “Yellow Submarine” Emery confirmed that he is doing unusually well in the European League. He was the first to advance to the fifth final – in the years 2014 to 2016, another Spanish club FC Sevilla led to three championships, the previous year he failed in the fight for the trophy as an Arsenal coach.
The final will take place on May 26 in Gdańsk.
Arsenal failed to retaliate through the defense of Villarreal. Luck was not good for striker Aubameyang, who hit the bar in the 27th and 79th minutes. Several good options were not changed by the guests either. But in the end they didn’t have to be sorry, a goalless draw was enough for them to advance.
The “gunners” were rewarded with two eliminations from the Champions League – in the semifinals of the 2005/06 season and in the quarterfinals of the 2008/09 season. Arsenal will probably not play in the European Cups next season, as he ranks ninth in the Premier League.
Manchester had the progress within reach after a high home win and did not allow any major complications in Rome. Currently, the seventh team of the Italian league, on the bench of which Mourinho will replace the current Fonsec coach on the bench after the season, was more active in shooting, but the guests opened the score. With 39 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending.
AS Řím continued its activity even after the break and equalized in the 57th minute, when the former Teplice striker Džeko made his head close by. Cristante turned in three minutes, but the home team did not take two more chances and in the 68th minute their hopes were dashed by the second goal of the match after another pass for the defense of the headed Cavani. The Uruguayan gunner has scored 15 goals in the last 10 matches of the European League, in which he intervened.
The home side put themselves ahead 1 – 0 after 83 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from Telles, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. But the guests didn’t mind too much. Under coach Solskjaer, they reached the finals for the first time in one of the competitions.
Final matches of the semifinals of the European Football League:
Arsenal FC – Villarreal CF 0:0
Judges: Vinčič – Klančnik, Kovačič (all Slovenian) – Dankert (video, German). ZK: Nketiah – Pino. No spectators. First match: 1: 2, advanced to Villarreal.
Arsenal: Leno – Bellerín (90. + 1 Nketiah), Holding, Marí, Tierney (80. Willian) – Partey – Saka, Ödegaard (66. Martinelli), Smith Rowe, Pépé – Aubameyang (79. Lacazette). Coach: Arteta.
Villarreal: Rulli – Gaspar, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza (90. + 1 A. Moreno) – Coquelin, Parejo, Trigueros – G. Moreno, Chukwueze (29. Pino, 90. + 1 Gómez), Alcácer (72. Bacca) . Trainer: Emery.
AS Roma – Manchester United 3: 2 (0: 1)
Goals: 57th Jacket, 60th Cristante, 83rd Own Telles – 39th and 68th Cavani. Judges: Brych – Borsch, Lupp – Fritz (video, all German). ZK: Karsdorp, Cristante – Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Cavani, Williams. No spectators. First match: 2: 6, Manchester advanced.
Rome: Mirante – Karsdorp, Smalling (30. Darboe), Ibañez, Peres (69. Santon) – Mancini – Pedro (76. Zalewski), Cristante, Pellegrini, Mchitarjan – Džeko (76. Mayoral). Coach: Fonseca.
Manchester: De Gea – Wan-Bissaka (46th Williams), Bailly, Maguire, Shaw (46th Telles) – Pogba (64th Matic), Fred – Greenwood, Fernandes (84th Mata), Van de Beek – Cavani (73 .Rashford). Coach: Solskjaer.
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