TEAM NEWS
Sevilla striker Kevin Gameiro is a concern for the Andalusians with a damaged knee. The France international underwent extensive medical tests at the weekend and missed out Sunday’s Liga clash with Getafe. The club will make a late decision on him. There are also doubts over Vitolo, who is carrying a hamstring strain, while Jairo Samperio is suspended. Denis Cheryshev (foot) and Sebastian Cristoforo (knee) are both definitely out.
Benfica will be without suspended trio Enzo Pérez, Eduardo Salvio and Lazar Marković while Ljubomir Fejsa (foot) is battling to prove his fitness before kick-off at Juventus Stadium. Defender Silvio has already been ruled out with a leg injury for the Portuguese side.
MANAGER QUOTES
Unai Emery: “Benfica have reasons to be favourites but we have reasons to be confident in our team. Being objective, the favourites to win the Europa League were Juventus, and the team that eliminated Juventus are Benfica, so that would logically mean that they are the team to beat. But that doesn’t change our belief in that we are capable of overcoming them. What I can say clearly is that both teams deserve to be finalists.”
Jorge Jesus: “We have been working on this project for five years. We haven’t just reached this point by chance. We feel that our work has been rewarded by getting to these finals. We always work towards getting to these big finals and it’s very satisfying. The fact that we were in last year’s final gives us more confidence but it doesn’t mean we will win. There is no favourite.”
Source: Eurosport