Juve desperately hope for home final by beating Benfica

Europa League favourites Juventus (evens) travel to Benfica (4/1), while Spanish sides Sevilla (4/1) and Valencia (9/2) go head-to-head at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, in their first leg semi-finals match-ups.

Sevilla v Valencia
Over the course of the last three seasons, these two La Liga clubs have been very evenly-matched. Of their last eight meetings in all competitions, Sevilla have won four, scoring 10 times, while Valencia gained three victories, getting 11 goals.

The duo have never played each other in European competition, however, but home side Sevilla were champions of this tournament in 2006 and 2007. That is why they are odds-on favourites to beat their opponents in this first leg at 8/11.

On top of that, the Andalucians are in fantastic league form, having won nine out of their last 10 games. Valencia, meanwhile, have managed just two victories from their previous nine La Liga matches, with Coral giving them odds of 4/1 to beat the home team.

For goals, go with Sevilla striker Kevin Gameiro, who has 20 this season in all competitions, including six in the Europa League. Back the Frenchman, who netted against Valencia earlier this season, at 6/5 to score anytime. For the travellers, Los Che leading marksman Jonas, who got two in that same game, is an 11/4 shout to find the target.

Benfica v Juventus
With the final being played at Juventus’ ground in Turin, that will give the Italian giants an extra incentive to win their first major European trophy since the Champions League in 1996. However, Benfica stand in their way in the last four.

Both sides lead the way convincingly in their respective domestic leagues, but it is the Portuguese side who boast bragging rights going into this game. They have played each other four times before, with Benfica beating their opposition in three of them, so back them at 8/5 for victory again.

Juventus and Benfica are both in fine form, having won five and seven matches in a row respectively in all competitions. Away side Juve are 15/8 for victory.