Aston Villa before exit in ECL
Potential Leverkusen opponents make it very exciting
May 2, 2024, 11:23 p.m
The home advantage was not used: Olympique Marseille had to accept a draw against Atalanta Bergamo. The Italians had previously knocked title favorites Liverpool FC with Jürgen Klopp out of the Europa League – and are now creating a small advantage for the final. In the Conference League, however, there is a preliminary decision.
Liverpool conquerors Atalanta Bergamo have kept their chance of reaching the final of the Europa League. At Olympique Marseille, coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s team drew 1-1 (1-1) in the first leg of the semi-final. The winner of the duel would be a possible opponent of the German champions Bayer Leverkusen in the final. The final will take place in Dublin on May 22nd.
Gianluca Scamacca (11th) scored for the Italian first division team, who had ensured team manager Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC exit in the quarter-finals. Chancel Mbemba (20th) equalized in the game refereed by German referee Daniel Siebert.
Aston Villa is currently threatened with elimination in the Conference League. The fourth-placed team in the Premier League lost 2:4 (1:2) to Olympiacos Piraeus in the semi-final first leg in front of their home crowd. Three-packer Ayoub El Kaabi (16th/29th/56th, hand penalty) played a large part in the Greeks’ success, and Santiago Hezze also scored (67th). Ollie Watkins (45th + 1) and former Leverkusen player Moussa Diaby (52nd) equalized for the hosts. Douglas Luiz missed the chance to score shortly before the end when he missed a penalty kick (84′).
In the second semi-final, AC Fiorentina put themselves in a good position for the second leg. Thanks to a late goal from M’Bala Nzola in the first minute of stoppage time, the Italian first division team beat FC Bruges 3-2 (2-1). Riccardo Sottil (5th) and Andrea Belotti (37th) were also successful for the hosts. Hans Vanaken with a hand penalty (17th) and Igor Thiago (63rd) each scored to equalize for the guests from Belgium, who were outnumbered after the yellow-red card for Raphael Onyedika (61st).