Sevilla 2-1 Juventus: Erik Lamela header in extra time sends Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side into Europa League final

Erik Lamela scored an extra-time winner as Sevilla booked their place in the Europa League final with a 2-1 win over Juventus.

After an incident-packed first half, Dusan Vlahovic came off the bench to put Juventus 1-0 in front on the night, and 2-1 ahead on aggregate.

Substitute Suso cancelled out Vlahovic’s opener six minutes later with a wonderful goal to level the tie and send the game into extra time.

Early into the first half of extra time, Bryan Gil crossed for Erik Lamela to guide a header past Wojciech Szczesny to put Sevilla in the lead.

Sevilla dominated the opening minutes of an action-packed first half, but Juventus threatened first when an unmarked Federico Gatti had a strong header from a corner beaten away Yassine Bounou.

Szczesny was then called into action and made a remarkable save on the line to deny a cheeky Lucas Ocampus header sneaking in at the near post.

Jesus Navas delivered a low cross which Ocampus threw himself at on the near side of the six-yard box to divert the ball towards Szczesny’s front post, but the Polish goalkeeper reacted quickly to scramble the ball – which was 60% over the line – behind for a corner.

Sevilla quickly tested the Juventus goal again from the following corner, but Youssef En-Nesyri’s header was hooked away by Manuel Locatelli on the line.

After a lot of Sevilla pressure, the game began to open up and became end-to-end. Moise Kean found some rare space in the Sevilla penalty area and flashed a low shot across goal, but could only watch his effort crash off the foot of the post.

Juventus found the back of the net when Adrien Rabiot swept home Locatelli’s pulled-back cross, but the latter had made his run too early and was quickly ruled offside.

Sevilla had a strong penalty shout just before the break when Juan Cuadrado made a reckless challenge on Oliver Torres right on the edge of the penalty area, but referee Danny Makkelie was not interested.

Juventus started the second half much brighter and went close when Rabiot pulled an effort wide before Bremer grazed the post with a header.

After warning Sevilla a couple of times, Vlahovic came off the bench and scored within seconds to put Juventus ahead.

He ran at Sevilla defenders Nemanja Gudelj and Loic Bade, who were hesitant on the ball, and managed to dispossess them on the edge of the box before producing a dinked finish over Bounou.

But Sevilla replied with an even better attempt from substitute Suso, who glided past Leandro Paredes before he unleashed a brilliant effort that whistled into the top-left corner to level the match and the tie.

Szczesny made a couple more crucial stops at the end of normal time, denying Gil and En-Nesyri, to take the game to extra time.

Juventus had two big chances at the start of extra time when Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa had efforts saved by Bounou.

One minute later, Sevilla worked their way down the opposite end and went ahead when Gil crossed for Lamela to power a header into the bottom corner.

Sevilla will face AS Roma in the final, after Jose Mourinho’s side beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 on aggregate after a goalless draw in Germany on Thursday night.

TALKING POINT – SEVILLA EYE SEVENTH EUROPA LEAGUE TITLE

The competition’s most successful club are back for more. After two years away from the final, they’re back and they will be fighting Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma for a record-extending seventh Europa League title.

They’ve had a poor season domestically and are in 10th place in La Liga, but not many clubs can turn up at Sevilla in the latter stages of the EL and get much joy. There’s something different in the air when a final in this competition is at stake, and they have a chance to win a fifth title in the 10 years.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – WOJCIECH SZCZESNY (JUVENTUS)

The Juventus goalkeeper put in an inspired performance well worthy of a place in the final, and he’s incredibly unlucky to be on the losing side. Not only did he make nine saves during the game, but he made a handful of brilliant stops at crucial stages in the game to keep Juventus’ hopes alive.

PLAYER RATINGS

SEVILLA: Bounou 7, Navas 8, Bade 7, Gudelj 7, Acuna 7, Fernando 7, Rakitic 8, Ocampos 6, Torres 7, Gil 8, En-Nesyri 6

Subs: Montiel 6, Rekik N/A, Suso 8, Lamela 8, Gomez 6

JUVENTUS: Szczesny 8, Danilo 8, Gatti 6, Bremer 7, Cuadrado 7, Fagioli 7, Locatelli 6, Rabiot 7, Iling-Junior 7, Di Maria 6, Kean 7

Subs: Kostic 6, Miretti 6, Paredes 7, Chiesa 6, Vlahovic 6, Milik 6

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

25’ – WHAT A SAVE BY SZCZESNY! Jesus Navas provides a brilliant cross for Ocampos to guide a header towards the near post, but the Polish goalkeeper makes a fantastic save before kicking the loose ball behind for a corner. That could hardly have been closer to crossing the line!

32’ – KEAN OFF THE POST! He breaks free of the Sevilla defence and flashes a low effort across goal which comes off the foot of the post!

43’ – JUVENTUS HAVE THE BALL IN THE NET! Danilo plays Locatelli through on goal and the Italian drives to the byline before pulling a cross back for Adrien Robiot to fire into the net, but Locatelli had made his run too early and the flag goes up for offside.

45’ – SEVILLA PENALTY SHOUT! Juan Cuadrado makes a reckless challenge on Oliver Torres right on the edge of the penalty area, but referee Danny Makkelie isn’t interested.

60’ – BREMER GRAZES THE POST! In a free-kick from wide right, Leandro Paredes floats a cross into the box which Bremer meets in the air before sending a bouncing header agonisingly close. This is much better from the Italian side.

65’ – GOAL! SEVILLA 0-1 JUVENTUS (VLAHOVIC) – Vlahovic gets a bit of luck, but his persistence pays off as he runs at Sevilla defenders Gudelj and Loic Bade, who are hesitant, and nicks the ball on the edge of the box before finding the net with a composed, dinked finish over Bounou.

71’ – GOAL! SEVILLA 1-1 JUVENTUS (SUSO) – After some really scrappy play, Suso picks the ball up roughly 30 yards from goal and takes it past Paredes before unleashing an effort that whistles into the top-left corner.

89’ – SZCZESNY DENIES GIL FROM THE FLOOR! Sevilla have a corner which Juventus get half clear, but Gil is alert in the box to retrieve the loose ball and fires it back towards goal, but Szczesny, who is already on the floor, saves with his feet. He then tips over a header from En-Nesyri for another brilliant stop.

94’ – VLAHOVIC AND CHIESA AREN’T CLINICAL ENOUGH! Vlahovic runs at the Sevilla goal and makes some room for a shot just inside the box, but it’s a weak effort which is saved by Bounou. Then, Juventus have another massive chance as Chiesa has an attempt saved from point-blank range.

95’ – GOAL! SEVILLA 2-1 JUVENTUS (LAMELA) – Chiesa is denied at one end after Vlahovic failed to capitalise on a chance and Sevilla quickly make their way down the other end, former Tottenham team-mates combine as Gil crosses for Erik Lamela who powers a header into the bottom corner!

115’ – RED CARD! Acuna has been sent off! He receives a second booking for wasting time!

KEY STAT