Red Devils book a final berth despite a second-leg defeat Updated for April 2024

Updated: 26 November

Europa League Semi-Final 2nd leg – Olimpico stadium – Thursday 6th May 2021

Roma 3 Manchester United 2 (Manchester United win 5-8 on aggregate)

Roma goals: E Dzeko (57′), B Christante (60′), T Alex (83′) / Manchester United goals: E Cavani (39′, 68′)

Despite a 2-3 loss to Roma in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final at the Olimpico stadium, Manchester United have progressed to the finals of the tournament where they will face Spanish club Villareal.

After missing out on a few opportunities to open the scoring, Edinson Cavani found his first of the evening on 39 minutes when he was played on by Fred and finished with a thumping 20-yard shot past Roma keeper Antonio Mirante.

The hosts levelled in the 57th minute when Pedro's bouncing effort into the ground and back across goal was met by Edin Dzeko who headed home from close range.

Roma had to wait just three minutes for their second when Bryan Cristante got the better of Fred at the edge of the box, turned and fired his first-time effort in.

United were prevented from falling back further by some David de Gea heroics as the Spaniard denied Dzeko's header from point-blank range and then superbly stopped Pedro's fizzing goalbound attempt.

Cavani then settled a rattled United's nerves when he met a fine cross from Bruno Fernandes before powerfully heading it in on 68 minutes.

Roma tried to find their way back into a lost cause when teenage forward Nicola Zalewski beat a United offside trap to meet a Davide Santon cross and volley beyond De Gea via a deflection off Alex Telles with only 7 minutes of play left.

Europa League Semi-Final 2nd leg – The Emirates stadium – Thursday 6th May 2021

Arsenal 0 Villarreal 0 (Villarreal win 1-2 on aggregate)

Gunners bow out after drab draw in London

Unai Emery came back to haunt his former club as Villarreal held on to their first leg lead and played out a draw at the Emirates stadium that ensured them a berth in the Europa League finals.

He was even more unfortunate not to score from his second chance after the interval when his header from a Hector Bellerin cross hit the inside of the post and somehow did not creep across the line.

Emile Smith Rowe saw his lob go narrowly wide after that while Rob Holding saw a header flash first past the post as Villarreal steadfastly held on.

The visiting Spaniards had the chance to put the game to bed when Gerard Moreno shot straight at Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno with an open goal beckoning him.

The win was an achievement of sorts for Emery keeping in mind the fact that Villarreal had lost all their four previous European semifinals.

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