Villarreal have joined Manchester United in the 2021 Europa League final after holding Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates to win 1-2 on aggregate.
There’s an all English final in the Champions League where long time favourites Manchester City face Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, but the Gunners couldn’t join Manchester United in the Europa final as they twice hit the woodwork but only registered one shot on target.
While there’s plenty still at stake in the Premier League, particularly in the race for the 2020/21 Champions League places, the Red Devils have taken a huge step towards their qualification already, and the insurance of the Europa League is all about winning a piece of silverware for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, while for Villarreal it could open to door to next season’s Champions League.
Arsenal 0-0 (1-2 on agg.) Villarreal
With an away goal in the bag Arsenal knew that a 1-0 win would be enough to see them through to the final, though the threat of a goal from the Yellow Submarine would change all that. The Gunners had to attack and so they did, but they only managed one shot on target in the first half, as did Villarreal. Bernd Leno made a brilliant save to keep out a clever Dani Parejo free kick, while Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang was inches away from giving the Gunners a lead when his shot hit the foot of the post.
Arsenal desperately needed a goal and they had two excellent chances early in the second half but Nicolas Pepe fired just wide, and then Emile Smith-Rowe chipped a shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Villarreal continued to threaten and Leno did well to clear a dangerous cross.
Rob Holding met a Bukayo Saka cross but he headed just over and, with ten minutes remaining, Aubameyang hit the post again with a header.
AS Roma 3-2 (5-8 on agg.) Manchester United
It’s fair to say there wasn’t a lot in the way of Europa League 2021 highlights in the early stages of this tie as Manchester United looked like a side with a four goal lead, while Roma struggled to make inroads. Lorenzo Pellegrini came close but was denied by an excellent David de Gea save but, on 39 minutes and against the run of play the Red Devils extended their lead. In a sweeping move Luke Shaw combined well with Bruno Fernandes who fed Fred, and he in turn slid the ball through to Edinson Cavani who finished expertly. It was the Uruguayan’s 15th goal in his last 15 Europa League appearances.
De Gea had been the busier of the keepers in the first half as Roma registered five shots on target to Manchester United’s two, but it looked rather like a training session for the Red Devils.
The second half exploded into life when Edin Dzeko pulled a goal back, nodding into an empty net after Pedro’s shot bounced up and into his path; it was the Bosnian’s ninth goal against the Red Devils. Roma scored another when Pellegrini robbed Fred and passed to Bryan Cristante and he fired into the corner to make it 2-1 on the night.
The hosts sniffed the slightest chance and, with half an hour to go, De Gea made two great saves to deny Pedro and Dzeko. And then Henrikh Mkhitaryan hit the United keeper’s legs when he should have scored. But Roma’s hopes were snuffed out when Cavani scored his second with a superb header.
That was 16 in 15 for the striker and game over, but Roma did score another, in the 83rd minute when 19 year old Nicola Zalewski beat De Gea with the help of a deflection.
What’s next?
So Manchester United will meet Villarreal in the Europa League final in Gdansk on 26th May.
The Red Devils have been the favourite for some time according to the Europa League 2021 betting odds but midfielder Bruno Fernandes says that while it will be an improvement it still isn’t enough for the club. Back to domestic matters United will confirm their participation in the 2021/22 Champions League soon enough, and possibly when they play Aston Villa on Sunday.
Arsenal have had an underwhelming domestic season, currently in ninth and with ground to make up on the Europa places, but a match against lowly West Brom should provide three points at the weekend. The Gunners are in danger of missing out on European competition for the first time in 25 years and that would make it hard for head coach Mikel Arteta in the summer transfer window.
Roma’s best hope is a seventh placed finish in Serie A and that might just be enough to make the Europa League qualifiers but, with eighth placed Sassuolo in pursuit, the Romans can not afford to slip up against bottom club Crotone at the weekend.
Over in La Liga Villarreal are in sixth place, a point behind Real Sociedad and a point ahead of Real Betis, and they have a tough examination due with the visit of tenth placed Celta Vigo on Sunday. The Spanish League promises the most exciting finish with a three way battle for the title, so keep it here at SBOTOP as we report on the major action this weekend.
And the Yellow Submarine has a great chance to end the campaign in style.
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