Juve draw with Nantes and Sevilla regain their verve against PSV in the Europa League

TURIN, Italy, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Juventus’ disappointing season continued on Thursday with a 1-1 draw against Nantes in the first leg of the Europa League knockout stage.

Juventus have won just one of their six Champions League group stage matches, so they are now in the Europa League qualifiers. Moreover, his fans had to put up with a dismal campaign after being deducted 15 points in Italy’s Serie A due to financial irregularities.

The qualifiers are a relief for the Turinese, who faced Nantes, thirteenth in the French Ligue 1. The hosts took an early lead when Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic headed a Federico Chiesa cross into the net.

Chiesa was unlucky not to double his side’s lead early in the second half, after his powerful shot hit the low bar, bounced off the goal line and wide.

However, Nantes took advantage of the deficit to equalize on the hour mark, with a goal from Ludovic Blas after a quick counter-attack.

Meanwhile, six-time Europa League champions Sevilla beat PSV Eindhoven 3-0 thanks to goals from Youssef En Nesyri, Lucas Ocampos and Nemanja Gudelj.

Going through a tough season after being knocked out of the Champions League and winning just six games in all competitions, Sevilla put in an impressive performance in their favorite competition.

In Lisbon, Portuguese league champions Sporting had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Danish side Midtjylland.

Monaco captain Axel Disasi scored an added-time goal that gave his side a 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg.

(Reporting by Peter Hall; Editing by Ed Osmond; Editing in Spanish by Darío Fernández)