Juventus draw with Sporting to book Europa semi-final spot

LISBON, April 20 (Reuters) – An early goal from midfielder Adrien Rabiot earned Juventus a 1-1 draw with Sporting in an entertaining Europa League clash on Thursday to win the quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate and a Semi-finals prepare clash with Sevilla.

Juventus, who saw their 15-point deduction in Serie A over the club’s transfer deals, which were shelved pending a new trial earlier on Thursday, had a 1-0 win in the first leg with a goal from defender Federico Gatti in the won second half.

They meet Sevilla in the semi-finals, with the Italians initially at home on 11 May before the return leg in Spain on 18 May after the Spaniards beat Manchester United 5-2 on aggregate.

“We suffered, we did good things early in the second half but we need to improve our chances,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.

“We knew it was going to be difficult, but we’re going home with a good result.

“I was expecting Sevilla (in the semi-finals) to be honest. They’re a tricky team… They’ve won so many European leagues so they definitely have an advantage. The signs from the last game (in Manchester) were in their favour , I had this feeling.”

Juventus took an early lead through Rabiot, who struck from close range nine minutes after a corner.

Sporting winger Marcus Edwards equalized with a penalty in the 20th minute when he sent Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way with a shot in the middle of the goal after Rabiot conceded a penalty following a challenge against Manuel Ugarte.

The Lisbon side had just hit the woodwork.

Sporting almost managed to take a surprise lead in the 35th minute and level the tie when defender Ousmane Diomande completed a corner but his header just missed the target.

Just before half-time, Sporting winger Nuno Santos tried to steer the ball into the box from the left, but Juve defender Gleison Bremer blocked the danger just before Szczesny fell.

After the break, Sporting confidently pushed for possession but missed three more chances to equalize.

Ruben Amorim’s men should have found the net in the 75th minute when defender Ricardo Esgaio latched a pass on the edge of the area, only to see his volley go over the bar while Sebastian Coates missed two more chances minutes from time .

Sporting have now gone five European home games without a win for the first time in club history, having lost two and drawn two in the previous four home games.

They have lost every one of their last seven games with Italian clubs.

Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk, editing by Ed Osmond

Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.