Europa League: Rabiot cross and delight, Juventus in semifinals

Europa League, Sporting-Juventus 1-1: Bianconeri in semifinals

Juventus draws at home to Sporting 1-1 in the Europa League quarterfinal return leg and, by virtue of the 1-0 first leg, qualifies for the semifinals of Europe’s second-tier competition, where it will face Sevilla (3-0 to Manchester United after a 2-2 draw in the first leg).

At the “José Alvalade” stadium, the two goals both arrived in the first half, with Adrien Rabiot playing a leading role for better or worse: in the 9th minute, the Frenchman resolved a spat in the penalty area with the winning turn for the 1-0 lead, ten minutes later he knocked Ugarte down in the Bianconeri’s sixteen meters and gave the hosts a penalty kick that Edwards converted, beating Szczesny.

In the second half, Juventus wasted with Vlahovic, then retreated its center of gravity and, despite a couple of important risks (chances for Esgaio and Coates) preserved the equalizer until the triple whistle, thus winning the passage of the round and the pass to the semifinals.