Europa League Semifinals: Chelsea vs Frankfurt, Arsenal Against Valencia

DBasia.news –  Two teams from England, Chelsea and Arsenal, qualified for the Europa League semifinals 2018-19 with Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) and Valencia (Spain).

Arsenal and Chelsea’s simplicity reinforces the potential for the triumph of English clubs this season in Europe. As in the Champions League, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also became the two representatives of Queen Elizabeth in the top four phase.

Arsenal successfully eliminated the only Italian representative in Europe, Napoli, with a total aggregate goal of 3-0. Winning 2-0 in the first leg, the Gunners won with a score of 1-0 when playing the second leg at San Paolo.

The Gunners became the second team this season to come out of San Paolo with a victory after Juventus. The only goal in the second leg was scored by Alexandre Lacazette in the 36th minute from a free kick. Napoli wasted too many chances in the match.

Napoli under the care of Carlo Ancelotti’s had 20 attempted kicks and only two were on target – foiled by Petr Cech. The poor completion of the Napoli players punished them through the failure.

Arsenal have been awaited by a former club that has been trained by Unai Emery in mid 2008-2012, Valencia. Los Che got rid of Villarreal with a total 5-1 aggregate goal.

Winning 3-1 in the first leg, Valencia had no trouble securing a 2-0 victory in the second leg which took place at Estadio Mestalla. Two goals from Marcelino Garcia Toral’s team were scored by Toni Lato (13 ‘) and Daniel Parejo (54’).

Valencia played maturely securing the advantage and aggregate goals, although forced to survive with 39 ball possesions compared to 61 percent Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine has launched 20 attempted kicks and no one has torn the nets of the Valencia goal.

Meanwhile, Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge were struck by their favorite team who won 4-3 over their guests from the Czech Republic, Slavic Prague. The Blues have won 4-1 in the first half via Pedro’s two goals, Simon Deli’s own goal, and Olivier Giroud, which was reduced by Tomas Soucek’s goal.

But in the second half, Chelsea, as if underestimating the Slavs and reducing their vigilance, until Petr Sevcik scored two goals in the 51st and 54th minutes. Luckily, Chelsea scored an away goal from the 1-0 victory in the first leg at Sinobo Stadium.

As a result, Chelsea’s unwanted scenario failed to occur at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won aggregate 5-3 goals over Slavia Prague and will challenge the German team, Eintracht Frankfurt in the semifinals.

Frankfurt’s direction by Adi Hutter successfully killed the Benfica wonderkid, Joao Felix, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg (Benfica won 4-2) and won a 2-0 victory in the second leg which took place at Bornheimer Hang Stadium.

The two Frankfurt goals were scored by Filip Kostic (36 ‘) and Sebastian Rode (67’). Although both have an aggregate 4-4 goals, Frankfurt rightfully advanced to the semifinals as they were ahead in away goal agresitivity.

First and second leg semi-finals of the 2018-19 Europa League will take place at the beginning of May 2019. Arsenal will first host Valencia in the first leg, while Chelsea will visit Eintracht’s headquarters.