EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 16, RAUL 2ND LEG OF FAME

Ice-cool Jimenez on the spot to set up Sevilla quarter-final clash

RAUL JIMENEZ backed up his ambitious talk with an ice-cool penalty to fuel Wolves’ European dreams.

He had urged Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to “think big” this week ahead of Olympiakos’ visit.

But Jimenez did not just talk a good game, taking his goal tally for the season to 27 last night.

He converted an eighthminute penalty to put Wolves ahead in this last-16 tie after the first leg finished 1-1.

It was enough for a dogged win after the visitors had a first-half leveller overturned by VAR.

Former Europa League winners Sevilla now lie in wait on Tuesday in Duisburg, Germany in the quarter-finals.

A 2-0 final-day defeat at Chelsea saw Wolves finish seventh and miss out on European qualification via the Premier League. Nuno signed

Daniel Podence from Olympiakos in January for £17million and had been tapping into the attacker’s inside knowledge

The Greek champions were without injured first-choice keeper Jose Sa, and his replacement, Bobby Allain, was at fault for the penalty.

His poor touch from a short backpass allowed Podence to steal the ball and he bundled over the Wolves man.

Jimenez had scored all six of his Premier League penalties since joining from Benfica in 2018 and continued his 100 per cent record, almost dinking the ball home.

No Premier League player has been involved in more goals in all competitions this season than Jimenez, who also has 10 assists.

But Wolves’ blistering start was hampered by a injury to wing-back Jonny, who slipped on the watered pitch and thumped the deck in frustration.

Olympiakos tried to hit back when Kostas Tsimkas hit a leftfoot shot which was dipping in until Rui Patricio produced a superb one-handed stop.

The Greeks thought they had levelled when Mohamed Camara found the back of the net in the 28th minute from Youssef El Arabi’s cut-back.

But VAR ruled El Arabi was fractionally offside when he sprang clear of Wolves defence.

The decision infuriated the visitors and prompted series of feisty challenges. But Wolves finished the half strongly, with Juventus and Manchester United target Jimenez showing his confidence once more with a right-foot rabona over the bar from outside the box.

Home midfielder Ruben Neves also tested Allain before the interval.

In the second half the hosts sat deeper in a 5-4-1 formation as they looked to catch their opponents on the break.

Podence forced Allain into a tip-over and substitute Diogo Jota had a fierce low shot deflected wide.

Olympiakos stayed in the game though and tried hard to level but El Arabi hit a left-foot shot on the turn into the sidenetting.

Wolves were resolute and stood firm – it was just a great shame no fans were present to witness the vital win after numerous special nights at Molineux earlier in the campaign.