Leicester to face Roma in Europa Conference League semi-final

Leicester to face Roma in mouth-watering Europa Conference League semi-final after Jose Mourinho’s team avenge embarrassing group-stage defeat to Bodo/Glimt by thrashing Norwegian side in Rome

  • Nicolo Zaniolo scored a hat-trick as Roma hammered Bodo/Glimt 4-0 in Rome
  • Jose Mourinho’s side were beaten 6-1 by the same opponents in the group stage
  • Mourinho said humiliating the Norwegian team was not on his mind
  • Leicester await for Mourinho’s men in the semi-finals of the competition 

Jose Mourinho will be up against Leicester next after his Roma side smashed Bodo/Glimt 4-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

Roma trailed 2-1 from the first leg but were in fine form at the Stadio Olimpico as they set up a meeting with Brendan Rogers’ Leicester in the last four.

Nicolo Zaniolo hit a hat-trick to seal a 5-2 aggregate success and Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham was also on target to take his tally for the campaign in Italy to 18 goals in all competitions. 

Victory saw Roma avenge the embarrassing 6-1 defeat they suffered to the Norwegian outfit in the group stages back in October.

‘I believe Roma play a lot better than people give us credit for,’ Mourinho said. 

‘It’s too easy to say we have character, we are unbeaten for a long time because we are organised, but the truth is we play a lot better than what people say.

‘There was no doubt today. I told my team at half-time that it wasn’t about humiliating the opposition, winning 6-1 the way they did in Norway, it’s just about reaching the semi-final. 

‘Some fatigue set in later on, naturally, but the team deserved it, we are now 12 games into the Conference League and it’s tough playing on Thursdays and the weekend, but we are here waving the Italian flag in Europe.’

Dimitri Payet was on target as Marseille booked their semi-final place by beating PAOK

The first leg of the tie was marred by an altercation which saw Bodo coach Kjetil Knutsen and Roma goalkeeping trainer Nuno Santos provisionally suspended. 

Elsewhere, Dimitri Payet scored the only goal in Marseille’s win at PAOK to send the French outfit into the last four 3-1 on aggregate.

Feyenoord will be their opponents after Cyriel Dessers struck twice to inspire a 3-1 win at Slavia Prague and an overall 6-4 triumph.  




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