Thursday, May 06, 2021
Europe League
Manchester United and Villareal FC move into the final
Villarreal CF and Manchester United will play for the Europa League title on May 26th. Villarreal prevailed against Arsenal FC, Manchester United against AS Roma. There are three English teams in both European Cup finals.
Villarreal FC prevented two all-English European Cup finals. The Spanish club reached the final in the Europa League for the first time with a 0-0 draw at Arsenal FC in London. The team had won the first game at home 2-1 against the team around the German national goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Opponents on May 26th in Gdansk are Manchester United. The English were able to afford a 2: 3 (1: 0) at AS Roma after the brilliant 6: 2 in the first leg a week earlier.
This means that there are at least three teams from the Premier League in this year’s two European Cup finals. In the Champions League there will be a duel between Manchester City and Chelsea with coach Thomas Tuchel in Istanbul on May 29. In London, hopes were placed on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had been suffering from malaria for a long time. The ex-Dortmund was in the starting line-up for Dani Ceballos, who missed the first leg after yellow-red. The striker also had the best chances in the game when he hit the post in the 26th minute with a shot and in the 79th with his head.
Otherwise, the English had a hard time against the Spaniards, who were well adjusted by former Arsenal coach Unai Emery. Emery was back at his old place of work for the first time since the separation from Arsenal in late 2019. Arsenal goalkeeper Leno saved his team from the early deficit in a shot from Villarreal striker Samu Chukwueze (5th).
After the 2: 6 at Manchester United a week ago, AS Roma had almost no chance of making it into the final. In the first 20 minutes of the game, directed by Bundesliga referee Felix Brych, the Italians were initially overweight. After that, the guests took control. After the opening goal by Edinson Cavani (39th), who had already scored twice in the first leg, it looked like a quiet evening for United.
After the change, the Romans tried everything again. Edin Dzeko (57th) and three minutes later Bryan Cristante turned the game around. Afterwards, the hosts had further chances to point the way towards a football miracle. But Manchester’s strong goalkeeper David de Gea stood in the way. When Cavani (68.) scored his second goal, AS’s faint hope was gone. Nicola Zalewski (83.) ensured a conciliatory conclusion for the Romans with his winning goal.
.