Four teams have secured their places in the UEFA Europa League semifinals following a thrilling set of quarterfinal second legs across Europe. Aston Villa, Atalanta, Marseille, and AS Roma emerged victorious from their respective ties, setting up a compelling final four that blends Premier League ambition, Serie A resilience, Ligue 1 flair, and Italian grit.
The journey to the semifinals concluded on April 18, 2024, with matches played at iconic venues including Villa Park in Birmingham, Stadio Gewiss in Bergamo, Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, and Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Each tie carried its own narrative, from dominant performances to late-night comebacks, reflecting the unpredictable nature of knockout football.
Aston Villa booked their spot with a commanding aggregate win over Bologna. After a 2-0 victory in the first leg at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, the Villans returned to Birmingham and sealed the deal with a 2-0 home win. Jhon Durán and Ollie Watkins were the goal scorers in the second leg, with Watkins’ strike coming in the 65th minute after a swift counterattack initiated by Emiliano Martínez’s long distribution. Bologna, despite creating several chances in the first half, failed to test Martínez seriously after the break. Unai Emery’s side controlled 58% of possession and completed 87% of their passes in the final third, according to UEFA’s technical report. The result marked Villa’s first European semifinal appearance since the 2010 UEFA Cup, underscoring the progress made under Emery’s stewardship.
In Bergamo, Atalanta edged past Liverpool in a tie defined by tactical discipline and moments of individual brilliance. The first leg at Anfield ended in a 1-1 draw, with Mohamed Salah cancelling out Gianluca Scamacca’s early header. The return leg at Stadio Gewiss saw Atalanta prevail 2-1, thanks to goals from Ademola Lookman and Mario Pašalić. Liverpool pulled one back through Luis Díaz in the 78th minute, but Atalanta held firm. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side executed a high-press strategy that disrupted Liverpool’s build-up, forcing 22 turnovers in midfield — the highest by any team in a single Europa League knockout match this season, per Opta. Lookman, who has now scored in five consecutive European matches, was named Player of the Match for his relentless pressing and intelligent off-the-ball movement.
Marseille’s path to the semifinals was paved with resilience against Benfica. After losing the first leg 2-1 at Estádio da Luz, the Olympiens returned to Stade Vélodrome and delivered a 4-1 victory in front of a raucous crowd of 64,210. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice, including a stunning volley in the 32nd minute, while Ismaïla Sarr and Amin Harit added further goals. Benfica’s lone reply came from Ángel Di María in the 55th minute, but Marseille’s intensity never waned. The win marked the club’s first European semifinal appearance since the 2018 UEFA Europa League, when they lost to Atlético Madrid. Igor Tudor’s halftime tactical shift — switching from a 4-2-3-1 to a more aggressive 3-4-3 — allowed Marseille to overload the wings and exploit Benfica’s high defensive line.
AS Roma completed the quartet with a hard-fought victory over Bayer Leverkusen. The Germans had won the first leg 2-0 at BayArena, thanks to goals from Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick. But in Rome, Roma produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent European history. Lorenzo Pellegrini scored twice — once from the penalty spot and another from a curling effort outside the box — while Bryan Cristante and Stephan El Shaarawy added further goals to make it 4-0 on the night. Leverkusen managed a late consolation through Granit Xhaka, but the aggregate score finished 4-3 in Roma’s favor. Daniele De Rossi’s side defended with courage and attacked with purpose, completing 12 tackles in the final third and forcing Leverkusen into 18 inaccurate passes in their own half. The victory sent the Olimpico into delirium, with fans celebrating a night that will long be remembered in Roma’s European lore.
The semifinal draw, conducted at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on April 19, 2024, paired Aston Villa against Atalanta and Marseille against Roma. The first legs are scheduled for May 2, 2024, with returns set for May 9. Villa will travel to Bergamo for the first leg, while Marseille host Roma in the opening encounter. Kickoff times are set for 9:00 PM local time (8:00 PM BST / 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PT) for the Bergamo and Rome matches, and 9:00 PM local time (8:00 PM CEST / 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT) for the Marseille-Roma clash.
Injury updates ahead of the semifinals show both challenges, and opportunities. Aston Villa will be without Douglas Luiz, who is serving a suspension after accumulating two yellow cards in the quarterfinal. Emiliano Martínez remains available and is expected to start, having kept two clean sheets in the last three European matches. Atalanta will be without Rafael Tolói due to a hamstring strain, but Lookman and Pašalić are fully fit. Marseille face a significant blow with Aubameyang doubtful due to a calf issue, though Sarr and Harit are expected to start. Roma will be without Chris Smalling, who is out with a thigh injury, but Pellegrini and Cristante are cleared to play after passing late fitness tests.
The path to the final in Dublin on May 22, 2024, now takes shape. For Aston Villa, a semifinal berth represents a chance to end a 14-year wait for a European final appearance. Atalanta seek to build on their 2022 Europa League campaign, when they lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in the semifinals. Marseille aim to add a European trophy to their cabinet for the first time since winning the Champions League in 1993. Roma, under De Rossi, look to deliver silverware in their first full season in charge, following their Europa Conference League triumph in 2022.
As the competition enters its penultimate stage, the narrative is clear: four distinct clubs, four different footballing philosophies, and one shared dream. The coming weeks will test not only talent and tactics but also mentality and depth. For fans around the world, the Europa League semifinals promise drama, passion, and moments that could define legacies.
Stay tuned to Archysport for live coverage, expert analysis, and exclusive updates as the race for the Europa League trophy intensifies. Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on social media using #UELsemis.
