Tense quarterfinal second legs see Aston Villa and Fiorentina advance on penalties, setting the stage for thrilling semifinal matchups

The UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinals concluded with nail-biting second-leg matches that saw Aston Villa and Fiorentina clinch their spots in the semifinals through dramatic penalty shootouts. Aston Villa triumphed over LOSC Lille, while Fiorentina managed a victory against Viktoria Plzeň after extra time.

Aston Villa faced a formidable challenge at LOSC Lille, with the aggregate score tied at 3-3 leading to a penalty shootout. Emiliano Martínez emerged as Villa’s hero, saving two crucial penalties to secure their advancement. This marks Aston Villa’s first reach into a European semifinal since 1982, a significant milestone after several decades. The defining moment came when Matty Cash scored late in the game, pushing it to extra time and eventually to penalties where Martínez’s skills shone.

In another intense match-up, Fiorentina battled against Viktoria Plzeň and secured a 2-0 victory after extra time, which also concluded their aggregate at 2-0. Nico González and Cristiano Biraghi were the scorers for Fiorentina, with González breaking the deadlock in extra time followed by Biraghi sealing the win. This victory was crucial for Fiorentina, who remain unbeaten against teams from Czechia in nine encounters.

The semifinals are now set with Aston Villa facing Olympiacos and Fiorentina going up against Club Brugge. These matches are scheduled for May 2 and either May 8 or 9, promising more exciting European football. Both Olympiacos and Club Brugge also advanced through their respective fixtures, with Olympiacos overcoming Fenerbahçe on penalties, and Club Brugge defeating PAOK with a clear 2-0 score in the second leg, leading to an aggregate of 3-0.

These upcoming semifinals not only highlight the competitive spirit of the UEFA Europa Conference League but also set the stage for potential new European champions to emerge. With the final rounds approaching, the anticipation and stakes will undoubtedly rise, offering football fans around the world thrilling matches to look forward to.