Europa League holders Sevilla silence Viola in thrilling semi-final

The makeshift full back, in his debut season with Sevilla, clinically capped off another swift breaking move, with Bacca providing the key pass after a rapid burst from Benoit Tremoulinas down the left.

Montella’s men almost responded immediately, but Fernandez somehow calamitously managed to miss the target from only six yards out, before being thwarted again soon after when the towering presence of Sergio Rico halted any threat, rushing out to block the Chilean’s attempt.

Both sides continued to pile pressure on each other in a free-flowing game, as Fiorentina threatened again with on-loan Chelsea wideman Mohamed Salah becoming the latest victim of a great save by Sevilla stopper Rico.

The Serie A side continuously shifted their attacking play towards a favoured left flank, with Joaquin appearing as the most likely source of creating an equaliser, much to the dismay of the Bath Tubs faithful, following his previous six-year spell at rivals Real Betis.

Rico was twice called into action again before the break, with two consecutive Fernandez crosses from deep on the left wing forcing the Spaniard to punch clear before Gomez or Gonzalo Javier Rodriguez could convert such a dangerous delivery.

A moment of controversy came on the stroke of half-time when Former Manchester City defender Stefan Savic clumsily took down Grzegorz Krychowiak in the box, following a miss-kick form the Poland international, but referee Felix Brych had already blew his whistle, as Sevilla held a slender half-time lead.

After an engrossing first period, Micah Richards was introduced to proceedings and instantly put under severe pressure as Vidal slotted home his second of the night, comfortably rolling past a poorly positioned Neto to double Sevilla’s advantage.

The goalscorer was given much more freedom when Jose Antonio Reyes departed proceedings, with Vidal switching to a more usual advanced role on the right wing. Such a tactical decision prospered as Montella’s Viola found it extremely difficult to contain wicked wingplay from the hosts.

French forward Gameiro added a touch of gloss to Sevilla’s imminent victory, dispatching from close range after just 26 of being brought on to replace Bacca, as the holders edged ever closer to retaining their European title.

Elsewhere, in the other semi-final match-up, Rafael Bentiez’s Napoli were held to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico by stubborn Ukrainian outfit Dnipro. Yevhen Seleznyov’s late away goal cancelled out an opener from David Lopez to leave the Little Donkey’s with much work still to do.