UEFA Europa League 2023: Sevilla Thrash Manchester United To March Into Semifinal

Six-time champion Sevilla eliminated Manchester United from the Europa League on Thursday after a 3-0 victory in the second leg of their quarterfinal. United had beaten Barcelona and Real Betis earlier in Europe’s second-tier competition but couldn’t keep up with Sevilla — currently 13th in the Spanish league — at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium.

Forward Youssef En-Nesyri scored twice and Sevilla advanced to the semifinals 5-2 on aggregate after last week’s 2-2 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford. “This is a team that’s used to greater things,” Sevilla coach José Luis Mendilibar said. “We came from an awkward situation in Manchester, where we drew 2-2 without doing things right, and people believed that we could do it. In the end we did it. It’s surprising for us to win a game against Manchester United without struggling and with such forcefulness, it’s not easy.”

Under pressure, United defender Harry Maguire lost the ball outside the area and En-Nesyri scored on a low left-footed shot into the corner past goalkeeper David de Gea in the eighth minute. Defender Loïc Badé headed home two minutes into the second half and En-Nesyri made it 3-0 late on after De Gea’s blunder.

United manager Erik ten Hag didn’t blame the injuries of some key players for the loss. “It is about the players on the pitch. They have to perform. I believe in them and trust them. Today, we were not good enough,” he told BT Sport. “Tonight, and on some other occasions, we were not ready for the game and that can’t be when you are playing for Manchester United.”

The Spaniards also eliminated United in the semifinals of the same competition in 2020. Sevilla will face Juventus in the last four following the Italian team’s 1-1 draw at Sporting in Lisbon for a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Ten Hag made only one change to the squad that beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the English Premier League on Sunday. Marcel Sabitzer replaced playmaker Bruno Fernandes, who was suspended after an accumulation of yellow cards. Sabitzer had scored both United goals in the first leg against Sevilla.

_ Quarter-finals, second legs...

Sevilla stun United ___@SevillaFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/CwDMWEV8TF — UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 20, 2023

Double victory for Juventus

Juventus took a 1-0 lead to Lisbon and advanced with a 1-1 draw. France midfielder Adrien Rabiot put the visitors ahead early after he netted when Sporting failed to clear a corner kick.

Marcus Edwards equalized from the penalty spot in the 20th. Sporting knocked out English Premier League leader Arsenal in the previous round.

It was the second celebration for Juventus on Thursday. The storied Italian team had a 15-point penalty suspended and jumped up to third in Serie A. In the Italian capital, Roma forward Paulo Dybala scored in the 89th minute against Feyenoord, and Stephan El Shaarawy and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini scored in extra time for the Italian team to win 4-1 and advance to the semifinals on a 4-2 aggregate score.

Defender Leonardo Spinazzola scored on the hour for Roma to take a 1-0 lead but Igor Paixão equalized 10 minutes from time for the visitors. Roma beat Feyenoord in last season’s Europa Conference League final.

Roma will face Leverkusen in the final four after the German club beat Union Saint-Gilloise 4-1 to advance 5-2 on aggregate.