Facing the holder of the record of titles in the Europa League (six in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020), Juve is doing well. She waited until the very last action to equalize, thanks to a header from defender Federico Gatti after several corner kickbacks (90th+7).

The Turinese, unbeaten in the Europa League since their elimination from the Champions League, can still dream of a final. And it's well paid, as Sevilla was superior, like Youssef En-Nesyri's goal while in control (26th).

Struggling this season in the Spanish Liga, where they are only 11th, the Andalusians have found momentum since the arrival of José-Luis Mendilibar, who relieved Jorge Sampaoli on the bench at the end of March.

Since then, he has suffered only one defeat in ten games, against Girona (0-2), and took out Manchester United in the quarters of the Europa League (2-2, 3-0).

Second in the league but threatened by a potential suspension of 15 points for alleged accounting fraud (suspended penalty that will be reviewed on May 22), the Turinese were generally overwhelmed despite their final goal.

Pogba decisive

Even if Juve had its share of chances, by Kostic (12th) or Vlahovic (18th, 19th), it was the Andalusians who were the sharpest from the start, especially with Lucas Ocampos, author of two framed headers (14th, 17th) and a dangerous unframed shot (25th).

Juve's French midfielder Paul Pogba (r) faces Sevilla's French defender Loic Bade in the Europa League semi-final first leg (1-1) in Turin on May 11, 2023 © Marco BERTORELLO / AFP

It was in the 26th minute that Sevilla found the solution: well launched deep on the right side, Ocampos set before serving back in the box En-Nesyri, who took Wojciech Szczeny on the wrong foot with a rasping shot.

At first nothing seemed to bother the Spaniards. Nor the premature exit of Ocampos (34th) on injury. Nor the five changes made by Massimiliano Allegri.

The newcomers Federico Chiesa, and especially Samuel Iling-Junior tried to break through the defense, without success (57th, 63rd).

It was perhaps the entry twenty minutes from the end of Paul Pogba that was the most beneficial for Juve: on the corner of the last chance, shot by Chiesa, deflected a first time, it was the French world champion who put his head back to Gatti for the equaliser. Everything remains to be done next week in Andalusia.

© 2023 AFP