Defending champions Sevilla are closing in on another Europa League final after a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in their first leg match. The Italians had not lost away though in a European match for five years, and an especially motivated Joaquín (ex Betis) created an early chance for Mario Gómez before winger turned right back Aleix Vidal connected with Bacca’s cross to open the scoring with just over a quarter of an hour gone. Matías Fernández shot just wide though and he and Salah brought good saves out of Sergio Rico later on in the first half, but some seven minutes after the restart Vidal scored his second of the evening, his shot inside the near post catching Neto out of position expecting a cross. And with a quarter of an hour to go substitute Gameiro deflected Vidal’s wayward shot past the keeper just a minute after coming on to give the Andalusians a massive advantage for next Thursday’s return leg. (07.05.15)