The Europa League semifinal first leg was fun, the second leg will be even better
Thursdays can be soccer fans' time off. There's the Europa League, but that competition often doesn't resonate with supporters. It's hard enough for Europa being a second tier competition, but also coming on the heels of Champions League days? That's quite the hurdle.
And yet this week, in the first legs of the semifinals, the Europa League turned in some first rate entertainment. It was everything a soccer fan would love, even if every soccer fan didn't want it. And the second legs should be even better.
Villarreal topped Liverpool, 1-0, thanks to a stoppage time goal and Sevilla and Shakhtar spent 90 minutes putting both goalkeepers to work before settling on a 2-2 draw. So neither match was short on drama, but it delivered so much more.
The firepower of all four teams were on display. OK, maybe not so much Liverpool, who didn't do much to threaten Villarreal and whose best chance of the match fell to Joe Allen, but the other three sides put on a show.
Villarreal went forward with numbers at all times and their pace caused Liverpool problems from the start. Denis Suarez was predictably brilliant and that they didn't score until stoppage time was pretty remarkable, but it did set the stage for a thrilling finish so who are we to complain?
Meanwhile Sevilla stunned Shakhtar early on, only to see the Ukrainians fire back before the two-time defending champion Spaniards find an equalizer.
Next week, the two sides will meet up not in Shakhtar's makeshift home - they're in Kiev because of unrest in Donetsk - but Sevilla's La Bombonera de Nervion, a raucous ground where the Europa League is a point of pride for the club. Add in the desperation of a second leg to the dynamic play we saw in the first leg and it should be must-see TV.
That is if you're not tuned into the other semifinal. Villarreal, backed by Suarez and Cedric Bakambu, will have a one-goal lead and plenty of confidence after a good first leg, but they'll also have to deal with Anfield on a European night.
Ask Borussia Dortmund, who blew a two-goal lead in the quarterfinals at the Reds' home. There is an aura to the ground, and that's especially so on European night. The echo from the Kop, in full voice backing Liverpool, makes for one of the best atmosphere's in the world, and the team feed off of it. And that makes for enough entertainment before we even take into account Jurgen Klopp's sideline antics.
So two semifinals, in historic and deafening venues, with a spot in a European final on the line and all the attacking talent you could ask for? Yes please.
The only problem next Thursday is be UEFA's insistence that both semifinals be played at the same time because both deserve the spotlight.
It's normal for people to forget about the Europa League. You may have done so this week and you should be regretting it. It had everything you could possibly want and next week should have even more. If you miss the second legs, you do so at your own peril.
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