Liverpool stands in the way of a third straight Europa League title for Sevilla after the clubs with a rich pedigree in Europe’s second-tier competition reached the final on Thursday.
Sevilla beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 at home to advance 5-3 on aggregate and maintain its impressive recent history in the competition. Liverpool, a three-time winner, overturned a first-leg deficit against Villarreal by winning 3-0 at Anfield to go through 3-1 on aggregate.
Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana scored second-half goals to add to a seventh-minute own goal by Bruno Soriano.
Liverpool has beaten Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, and now Spain’s fourth-best club in the knockout stages on a gruelling path to the final, which is in Basel, Switzerland, on May 18.
“Wonderful night, brilliant game from my side. What a performance,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Sevilla makes it Sevilla is seventh in La Liga but continues to show a different side in the Europa League.
Kevin Gameiro took his competition tally this season to seven goals by scoring early in each half at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, either side of Eduardo’s goal for Shakhtar.
Right back Mariano Ferreira smashed in a brilliant third for Sevilla from outside the area, his first goal for the club.
The results :
Liverpool 3 (Bruno Soriano 7-og, Sturridge 63, Lallana 81) bt Villarreal 0 (Liverpool wins 3-1 on aggregate) .
Sevilla 3 (Gameiro 9, 47, Mariano Ferreira 59) bt Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Eduardo 44 ) (Sevilla wins 5-3 on aggregate).
