Two former Manchester United stars will meet in the Conference League semi-finals after Real Betis and Fiorentina's successes on Thursday night.
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Antony and David de Gea will meet in the Conference League semi-finalsTwo stars played together at Man Utd during 2022-23 seasonWinners will face Chelsea or Djurgarden in the finalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Thursday night saw four teams book their places in the Conference League semi-finals. Chelsea and Djurgarden are due to meet in the other semi-final, but there will be reunion between two high-profile former Premier League teammates when Real Betis take on Fiorentina in the other fixture.
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Antony played 81 minutes as Betis secured a 1-1 draw against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok which sent them through, while David de Gea and his Fiorentina side were able to see off Slovenian outfit NK Celje 4-3 on aggregate.
WHAT THE SPANISH MEDIA SAID
The Spanish media were full of praise for Betis. MARCA admitted the win opened up the possibility of the 2024-25 campaign being a "historic one", though they also asserted that English outfit Chelsea, who were surprisingly beaten at home by Legia Warsaw despite going through on aggregate, are the "big favourites" to claim the trophy.
The same publication reported on Betis' celebrations come full-time. "Music, chants, and dancing reflected the euphoria of a team that, minutes earlier, still on the pitch, had celebrated with the nearly 500 Betis fans who had traveled to Bialystok" as they progressed on Holy Thursday.
AS commented on the cagey state of the game, but finished by claiming "The semifinal is in Betis's hands, and so is history. But everyone wants more."
Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?
Betis and Fiorentina's quarter-final success means two former Manchester United teammates will square off for a place in the Conference League final. Antony has been a player reborn since leaving the Red Devils on loan in January, contributing two goals and two assists in ten La Liga matches, but his next task will be to overcome old ally De Gea.
