Wolves cruise into Europa League group stage after Jimenez and Dendoncker score in win against Torino

RAUL JIMENEZ and Leander Dendoncker put Wolves in the hat for the main draw of a European competition for the first time since 1980.

But it was wing-back Adama Traore who ripped the heart out of Torino and tamed the Italian bull over two scintillating ties.

Walter Mazzarri’s men simply had no answer to the Spaniard’s blistering pace.

Wolves chief Nuno Espirito Santo has pulled off a masterstroke by converting the erratic winger into a potent wing-back.

Traore was turned away at the gate when Wolves travelled to Armenia in the last round because he mislaid his passport.
However, he more than made up for that mishap by setting up Jimenez’s opener.

Now Nuno and his players can look forward to today’s Europa League draw in Monaco — and few teams will fancy tangling with them.

Wolves had done most of the heavy lifting for this tie in Turin, where they had come out on top in a thrilling 3-2 win.

Torino reminded them of their pedigree early on as they pushed for the breakthrough they needed.

Daniele Baselli and Tomas Rincon both came close with volleys from the edge of the box which flew just wide.

Wolves were a little lethargic early on — hardly surprising for a team playing their ninth match in 36 days.

Yet in pocket rocket Traore they have a one-man power supply and he suddenly sparked Molineux into life in the 25th
minute.

He collected the ball just inside the Torino half and burst past Sasa Lukic and Gleison Bremer before slamming a shot at
goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

And five minutes later, Traore tormented poor Ola Aina on the right before whipping in a low cross.

Jimenez pounced, squeezing himself in front of Bremer and Kevin Bonifazi to stab the ball past Sirigu at his near post —
his sixth goal in six Europa League ties this season.

Torino gave themselves a brief glimmer of hope when they equalised on 57 minutes.

Baselli whipped in a wicked free-kick from the left and Italian international Andrea Belotti stole in front of Conor Coady
to head past Rui Patricio.

But their faint hopes were extinguished when Wolves went straight up the other end to finally put this play-off tie to bed.

Diogo Jota burst through a couple of challenges and fired in a low shot which Sirigu could only parry out.

And Belgian midfielder Dendoncker fired the rebound home off the inside of Torino’s post.

Belotti and Soualiho Meite did their best to pull off a miracle comeback, but both of their attempts flew wide.