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Roma's head coach Jose Mourinho, left, celebrates after the Europa League semi-final second leg. Alamy Stock Photo
Special One

Classic Jose Mourinho performance sees Roma through, ex-Spurs star scores winner for Sevilla

It was a disappointing night for Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.

Updated at 23.30

JOSE MOURINHO’S Roma will take on perennial Europa League champions Sevilla in the final in Budapest in two weeks’ time.

Roma stoutly defended their 1-0 advantage from the first leg against Bayer Leverkusen to secure the goalless draw they needed while Sevilla defeated Juventus 2-1 after extra time.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen threw everything at Roma in a bid to level matters on aggregate but the closest they came was a powerful shot from Moussa Diaby in the 12th minute that hit the bar.

It was a Mourinho masterclass in the second half as Roma denied their opponents clear-cut opportunities, with Sardar Azmoun’s close-range effort going narrowly wide late on.

Roma are bidding to make it back-to-back European titles after winning the Europa Conference League last season.

A thrilling game in Seville was decided by Erik Lamela’s header five minutes into extra-time.

Moise Kean hit the post for Juve in the first half but they were indebted to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for a string of saves, the best denying Lucas Ocampos.

The Italians took the lead in the 65th minute through Dusan Vlahovic moments after he came off the bench, but six minutes later another substitute, Suso, equalised with a stunning strike.

Sevilla thought they had won it at the end of normal time but Szczesny produced another brilliant save to keep out Youssef En-Nesyri’s header.

The Pole was beaten by Lamela, though, the Argentinian meeting Bryan Gil’s cross with a header into the bottom corner, and, despite Marcos Acuna being shown a second yellow card for time wasting, Sevilla held on to reach a seventh final in 18 years, where they will look to maintain their perfect record.

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Press Association
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