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Man United, Arsenal, Roma, Villarreal ease into Europa League semis
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Players of Manchester United celebrate during the Eurapa League quarter-final match against Granada in Manchester, UK, April 15, 2021. /CFP

Players of Manchester United celebrate during the Eurapa League quarter-final match against Granada in Manchester, UK, April 15, 2021. /CFP

Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-finals after Edinson Cavani's early strike and a Jesus Vallejo own goal secured a 2-0 home win over Granada on Thursday and completed a 4-0 aggregate rout of the Spanish side.

United will face AS Roma for a place in the May 26 final in Gdansk after the Italian side ground out a 3-2 aggregate win over Ajax Amsterdam with a 1-1 home draw in the second leg of their quarter-final.

Cavani netted his 50th goal in European competition with a clinical sixth-minute finish as United made a bright start, volleying past goalkeeper Rui Silva after Paul Pogba flicked a header into the Uruguayan's stride.

Granada came to life after falling behind and their forward Yangel Herrera twice headed inches wide as the home side appeared content to sit back.

Bruno Fernandes fired narrowly over the bar with a rasping first-time volley in the 34th minute and Cavani headed wide of the far post before United keeper David De Gea denied Herrera with a fine save.

Vallejo scored at the wrong end of the pitch in the 90th minute as Alex Telles swung in a cross from the left and the center back gave Silva no chance with a misdirected header which ended up in the bottom corner.

Fernandes said he was confident United, beaten by eventual winners Sevilla in last season's semi-finals, could overcome Roma.

"Every team will give you problems," the Portugal midfielder told BT Sport.

"They have a good organization defensively, they can create problems offensively. Some of their players have played in England. We know what we have to do. If we do the right things, we will have our chances to win the game."

Players of Arsenal celebrate during the Eurapa League quarter-final match against Slavia Prague in Prague, Czech Republic, April 15, 2021. /CFP

Players of Arsenal celebrate during the Eurapa League quarter-final match against Slavia Prague in Prague, Czech Republic, April 15, 2021. /CFP

Arsenal cruised past Slavia Prague 4-0 to book a Europa League semi-final spot after they struck three quick-fire goals in seven first-half minutes to advance 5-1 on aggregate.

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice, including a penalty, while Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka also found the net in the quarter-final second leg to set up a last-four clash with Villarreal.

First-half strikes from Paco Alcacer and Gerard Moreno gave Villarreal a 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb and a 3-1 aggregate triumph. 

Source(s): Reuters

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