The draw for the semifinal for the Europa League preceded that of its bigger (and better) sibling, the Champions League, on Friday. Though the tournament sometimes does get a bad press, the Europa League is always interesting when it gets to this deep phase, and the two ties we have lined up are no different.
Europa League semifinal draw 2015: reigning champions Sevilla face Fiorentina
Sevilla will have to beat Fiorentina if they’re to defend their crown.
Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images
The first out of the hat was Italian giants Napoli against Ukraine's Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, with these sides having already met twice in the not-too-distant past. In the group stages of the 2012 edition of the Europa League, Napoli were stunned 3-1 away in Ukraine, only to win the reverse fixture 4-2 at the Stadio San Paolo. Hopefully we see similarly entertaining games in this tie. Make no mistake, both of these teams are taking this tournament very seriously.
The second game will, however, likely be the closer of the two matches. It sees reigning champions Sevilla take on the other Italian team left in the competition, Fiorentina. Sevilla are enjoying a strong domestic season under Unai Emery, and though their opponents haven't been quite as convincing in Serie A this year, they're still a very strong outfit -- and one with plenty of history on the continental stage. It's not a game to be missed.
Full draw
The first leg of these matches will be held on the May 7; the second legs a week later on May 14.
Napoli vs. Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
Sevilla vs. Fiorentina
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