Saturday 7 May 2016

Champions League/Europa League Semi Final Reviews

Just 90 minutes away from two potential finals in Milan and Basel, the English duo of Manchester City and Liverpool had work to do to move closer to securing Champions League spots for next season and a trophy to go with it.

Tuesday night saw Bayern Munich host Atletico Madrid looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. The hosts took just 31 minutes to level the tie as Xabi Alonso swept in a superb free-kick for a 1-0 lead on the night. However, the advantage swung back to the visitors as Antoine Griezmann levelled at 1-1 but in doing so made it 2-1 on aggregate and with a potentially vital away goal. Bayern needed two to avoid an exit and with 16 minutes left they got the first of the required double as Robert Lewandowski fired in to give them a 21 lead on the night but that was how it ended. The hosts secured the win but missed out on the final via away goals in the 2-2 aggregate.

Wednesday night saw Real Madrid look to join their city rivals in the final as they hosted Manchester City with the tie evenly poised after a goalless first leg. The second leg was almost as close as just one goal settled the tie, a superbly angled shot from Gareth Bale deflected off Fernando and past Joe Hart to put Madrid ahead in the 20th minute. City pushed to drawl level and in doing so secure a place in the final but to no avail as they slipped to the 1-0 aggregate defeat that sets up an all Madrid final.

Thursday night saw the Europa League resume with Liverpool looking to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit as they hosted Villarreal. The Reds took just seven minutes to level the tie as an effort from Daniel Sturridge cannoned in off Bruno Soriano Llido for 1-0 on the night. Sturridge doubled the lead just after the hour mark to put the Reds in control of the tie and their luck was in on 71 minutes as the dismissal of Victor Ruiz all but ended the visitors' hopes. The gloss on the win came nine minutes from the end as Adam Lallana sealed a 3-0 win and 3-1 aggregate win to send the Reds into their first European final in nine years.

Holders Sevilla hosted Shakthar Donetsk looking to reach a third consecutive final and potentially become the first side to secure three titles in as many seasons and after a 2-2 draw in the first leg, they had the advantage of away goals over the Ukrainians. They took just nine minutes to increase their advantage as Kevin Gameiro opened the scoring for a 4-2 lead overall. Eduardo levelled on the night in the 44th minute but a second from Gameiro just two minutes after the restart looked to have wrapped up the tie. However, Sevilla completed a comfortable 3-1 win and 5-3 aggregate success just before the hour through Filho whose strike ensured they would face Liverpool in Basel on May 18th.

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