All Europa League and Conference League finalists.
Europa League
Bayer (Germany) – Roma (Italy) – 0:0 (first match – 0:1)
This game was on the verge of pragmatism and crazy luck. Few could have imagined that Roma, having won the home match with the score 1:0, would shamelessly play 0:0 away from the first minutes, and they would succeed. How many times have you seen how teams that decide on such tactics for a shorter period of time and with a large margin in the score eventually lose everything, get punished and fail. It takes a lot of courage even to adopt such a tactic. But José Mourinho didn’t just make a decision, he did.
In the first half, Bayer missed the right chances to score three goals. Roma had 27 percent of the ball, had an accuracy of around 60 passes and hardly appeared in the opposition’s half. Throughout the first half, he made an inaccurate shot on goal with Pellegrini’s efforts. And it was generally the only hit of “Roma” for the whole match.
While Bayer only had 12 tries in the first half of the match, four of which hit the target. Demirbay and Diaby were each beaten four times, who also managed to hit the crossbar. It looked like Mourinho’s stronghold would falter in the second half. Hand. The game continued in the same vein. “Roma” sat down deafly in defense, and “Bayer” attacked all the time. In the second half of the meeting, the Romans did not break through the goal a single time, and the Leverkuseners made 11 shots, two of which hit the target. And many of the guests’ approaches to other people’s doors were dangerous.
This can be compared to the many scoring chances Manchester City created on the eve of the match against Real Madrid. But the “citizens” at least got something wrong – and that was enough for 4:0. Bayer could count on such a game both 5:0 and 6:0. And he achieved a goalless draw, and in the last seconds the Romans were already dragging him with all their might, destroying the time and taking more and more yellow cards.
It is difficult to say what is more in this result. But this game is nothing like one where the defending team clearly built tactics and did not let the opponent in. Rather, she grabbed the goalkeeper and fought back, counting on luck. In nine out of ten such games, such tactics would have resulted in defeat, but here it is a win. And reach the Europa League final.
Has Mourinho rediscovered his magic? The final will show. This is the sixth European Cup final for the Portuguese. And in all the previous ones he won. The last time – a year ago with the same Roma, winning the Conference League.
Sevilla (Spain) – Juventus (Italy) – 2:1 (Suso 71st, Lamela 95th – Vlahovic 65th) (first match – 1:1)
But Mourinho will meet other “cheaters” in the final – with “Seville”. This amazing team reached the Europa League final again. Therefore, it seems to make fun of people who refuse to believe in mysticism and fate. No logic can explain Sevilla’s continuous discoveries and successes. No matter the form, no matter the level and name of the opponents, the Andalusians crawl and crawl to victory in the Europa League year after year.
This time it seems that a worthy opponent has crept in. Juventus, of course, is not perfect, but it is not a passing club from a third world country. But a draw in Turin left Sevilla with good chances in the second leg at home. And the first half was dominated by the Spaniards, who had possession more than 60% of the time, shot ten shots against five (3:2 on accurate shots), worked much better with the ball.
However, there were no goals. And halfway through the second half the unexpected happened: Sevilla conceded. True, Turintsy did not like Vlahovych’s goal for a long time. Six minutes later, Suso restores parity. It should be noted that Juventus suffered for a long time, transferring the match to extra time. Because in the second half, Sevilla tore him apart, forcing Shchesny to work miracles.
17:4 on shots in the second half (6:2 on accurate shots), more than 68% of the time the ball was with the Sevilla players. But still a draw, and everything was decided by extra time. However, you won’t scare Sevilla with this, and she continued in the same way she led the entire game. He turned up early in the third half to score and take the lead.
And this is where an interesting twist could happen. Because Juventus understood their position and really got involved. Extra time is statistically already left for Turintsy after they lost the main to smithereens. 8-1 shooting, 62% possession. Furthermore, in the 115th minute, Juventus were in the majority after Acuña’s elimination. However, he failed to break the magic of the tournament. Sevilla are in the final again. And there he will test his superpowers with the magic of Mourinho. Previously, she had been to the finals of this tournament six times in the past 18 years and won it all.
Conference League
AZ (Netherlands) – West Ham – 0:1 (Fornals 90 + 4th) (first game – 1:2)
West Ham’s victory in the first meeting was not so convincing as to unequivocally consider the English as the favorites in this confrontation. However, the class of the English Premier League, albeit in the performance of the team that struggled for survival there not long ago, has proved superior to that of one of the leaders of the Eredivision.
Interestingly, the first half of the return game was somewhat similar to that of the first game. Then also AZ he performed better at first, but in England he managed to score at least before the break. Here he limited himself to seven shots with one shot on goal and 65% possession. West Ham, however, only had four inaccurate tries.
But after the break AZ gave up again. Just like the first meeting. He still had the ball, but the English were already sharper. Equality was observed in hits and hits: five attempts each with a couple of accurate. But West Ham’s approaches were more effective and dangerous, and in stoppage time Fornals secured the lead from the Hammers, who progressed to the Conference League final.
For West Ham, the result is somewhat historic. He hasn’t played in a European Cup final for 47 years. The last time this happened was in 1976. And the last European trophy for West Ham was in 1965. The Hammers then won the Cup Winners’ Cup. Apparently, the Conference League was created just for these teams and interrupting their streaks.
Basel (Switzerland) – Fiorentina (Italy) – 1:3 (Amduni 55th – Gonzalez 35th, 72nd, Barak 120th + 9th) (first match – 2:1)
Each team in this pool has its own specialty and fun. Fiorentina, for example, enjoyed doing better away than at home. So it was in the previous stage, history repeated itself with Basel. Fiorentina unexpectedly lose at home against the Swiss. And now I had to heroically correct the situation.
We must pay tribute to the Italian team, which approached the issue responsibly and took the initiative from the first half. Logically, this assault led to Gonzalez’s goal. In the second half, the pressure from Fiorentina was no less, but even more significant. The same 60 percent of the time with the ball, but already ten shots on target against Basel’s only one. And the effect is the same: the Swiss scored a goal and Fiorentina scored a goal. The score from the first match was mirrored.
In extra time, Fiorentina continued to play more daringly, earning another two or three goals. Six of his ten shots were accurate, while Basel were rewarded with just four tries. He looked even more at the gate and was probably counting on penalties. However, already in the last seconds of the match, Fiorentina scored the third and snatched a ticket to the final. It was dramatic and effective. Now in each of the European competitions there is one Italian team.
