Sevilla and AS Roma reached the UEFA Europa League final after ou and Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinal's second leg respectively.

Europa League Final Review

Avatar for Abdulwaasi BamgbalaAbdulwaasi Bamgbala

It was a night to reckon with for the Kings of the UEFA Europa League – Sevilla. By winning their seventh trophy and beating Mourinho’s Roma in penalties, the team from Seville has established itself as the undisputed champions in the history of the competition. The Rojiblancos kept their Europa League final record alive, as they made it seven trophies in seven appearances with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Giallorossi in Puskas Arena, Budapest on Wednesday.

This marks the fifth Europa League titles in 10 seasons for Sevilla. Sevilla Futbol Club are like no other team in terms of the Europa League. They made their way to the final fighting against clubs that had four times their budget, evicting Manchester United in the quarter-finals with aggregate of (5-2) and knocking-out Juventus with aggregate of 3-2 in the semi-finals. The 2022/23 season remains the worst season yet for Sevilla in 20 years, one in which they have had three managers and risked relegation.

Jose Luis Mendilibar took on the reins of managing the team in March, by then, Sevilla were two points off the relegation zone, after losing three of their last four matches and were ready to fall apart. Mendilibar was their last glimmer of hope, a man who had taken charge of more than 400 first-division games over a career that span as far back as 27 years but not at clubs such as this.

Both teams were equally matched and couldn’t be separated for 120 minutes of play, with the score line stuck at 1-1. Sevilla’s Moroccan shot-stopper, Bono, stood out in the penalties, he managed to save two important penalties consecutively from Mancini and Ibanez respectively, which helped Sevilla lift the Europa League trophy at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.

Goalkeepers
Age
Nationality
Y. Bounou
Y.Bounou
Age:
32
32
M. Dmitrović
M.Dmitrović
Age:
31
31
Alberto Flores
AlbertoFlores
Age:
19
19
A. Pastor Vacas
A.Pastor Vacas
Age:
22
22
M. Herzig
M.Herzig
Age:
23
23
Matías Árbol
MatíasÁrbol
Age:
21
21
Defenders
Age
Nationality
Alex Telles
AlexTelles
Age:
30
30
M. Acuña
M.Acuña
Age:
31
31
Navas
Navas
Age:
37
37
G. Montiel
G.Montiel
Age:
26
26
K. Rekik
K.Rekik
Age:
28
28
T. Nianzou
T.Nianzou
Age:
21
21
L. Badé
L.Badé
Age:
23
23
José Ángel Carmona
JoséÁngel Carmona
Age:
21
21
Marcão
Marcão
Age:
27
27
Pablo Pérez
PabloPérez
Age:
22
22
Kike Salas
KikeSalas
Age:
21
21
J. Koundé
J.Koundé
Age:
24
24
Diego Hormigo
DiegoHormigo
Age:
20
20
Midfielders
Age
Nationality
Isco
Isco
Age:
31
31
T. Delaney
T.Delaney
Age:
32
32
I. Rakitić
I.Rakitić
Age:
35
35
E. Lamela
E.Lamela
Age:
31
31
Óliver Torres
ÓliverTorres
Age:
28
28
Fernando
Fernando
Age:
36
36
N. Gudelj
N.Gudelj
Age:
31
31
Suso
Suso
Age:
29
29
L. Ocampos
L.Ocampos
Age:
29
29
A. Januzaj
A.Januzaj
Age:
28
28
A. Gómez
A.Gómez
Age:
35
35
Joan Jordán
JoanJordán
Age:
29
29
Pedro Ortiz
PedroOrtiz
Age:
23
23
Nacho Quintana
NachoQuintana
Age:
22
22
Juanlu Sánchez
JuanluSánchez
Age:
20
20
Antonio Zarzana
AntonioZarzana
Age:
21
21
Manu Bueno
ManuBueno
Age:
19
19
P. Gueye
P.Gueye
Age:
24
24
Lulo Dasilva
LuloDasilva
Age:
20
20
Forwards
Age
Nationality
K. Dolberg
K.Dolberg
Age:
25
25
M. El-Haddadi
M.El-Haddadi
Age:
28
28
L. Cruz Hernández
L.Cruz Hernández
Age:
22
22
J. Corona
J.Corona
Age:
30
30
Rafa Mir
RafaMir
Age:
26
26
Y. En-Nesyri
Y.En-Nesyri
Age:
26
26
Carlos Álvarez
CarlosÁlvarez
Age:
20
20
Iván Romero
IvánRomero
Age:
22
22
A. Martial
A.Martial
Age:
27
27
O. Idrissi
O.Idrissi
Age:
27
27
Rony Lopes
RonyLopes
Age:
27
27
Bryan Gil
BryanGil
Age:
22
22
Coach
Age
Nationality
Lopetegui
Lopetegui
Age:
57
57
Cristian Toro
CristianToro
Age:
43
43

A Tensed Game

The match was not without intensity. Both teams are known for their defensive styles, dirty play , and seldomly scoring a goal.

But from the start, both teams didn’t sit back but attacked vehemently with intent, creating chances to seize an early advantage in the game and this pulled through for Dybala at the 34th minute of the game. Sevilla fought back with intense build ups and attacks for the remaining part of the first half but to no avail. The second half started with Sevilla not losing its flare and intensity, and because of that at exactly 55th minute, they were recompensed with an equalizing own-goal from Mancini. Both teams were now back to square one, and remained so until the end of the match.

FOULS AND BOOKINGS

There were 13 bookings throughout the 120-minute span game, with 6 bookings levied on Sevilla and 7 booked on Roma.

Europa League Final Preview

Avatar for Abdulwaasi BamgbalaAbdulwaasi Bamgbala

Roma Manager Jose Mourinho has never lost a European Football final while Sevilla have won six European League finals in six appearances.

History has it that Sevilla remains the most successful team in regards to the European League bout and this may yet be an opportunity to lift the trophy a seventh time at the end of what has been a trying season.

With their third coach of the campaign, Jose Luis Mendilibar, after sacking Julen Lopetegui followed by its successor Jorge Sampaoli they narrowly escaped the torment of relegation and eliminated Manchester United and Juventus on their way to Budapest.

The Portuguese, Jose Mourinho, 60 has five major continental titles up his sleeve – two Champions League wins, two Europa League trophies with both Porto (2002/03) and United (2016/17) and last year’s victory in the inaugural Europa League Conference with the Italian side. Roma is sixth in the domestic campaign called Serie A, evicting the likes of Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen en route to the final.

What To Expect?

Squad
Goalkeepers
Age
Nationality
M. Svilar
M.Svilar
Age:
24
24
Rui Patrício
RuiPatrício
Age:
35
35
P. Boer
P.Boer
Age:
21
21
Defenders
Age
Nationality
R. Karsdorp
R.Karsdorp
Age:
28
28
C. Smalling
C.Smalling
Age:
33
33
Ibañez
Ibañez
Age:
24
24
M. Viña
M.Viña
Age:
25
25
R. Calafiori
R.Calafiori
Age:
21
21
F. Tripi
F.Tripi
Age:
21
21
F. Missori
F.Missori
Age:
19
19
L. Spinazzola
L.Spinazzola
Age:
30
30
Z. Çelik
Z.Çelik
Age:
26
26
G. Mancini
G.Mancini
Age:
27
27
M. Kumbulla
M.Kumbulla
Age:
23
23
D. Keramitsis
D.Keramitsis
Age:
19
19
Midfielders
Age
Nationality
J. Veretout
J.Veretout
Age:
30
30
L. Cherubini
L.Cherubini
Age:
19
19
G. Faticanti
G.Faticanti
Age:
19
19
M. Ivković
M.Ivković
Age:
17
17
G. Wijnaldum
G.Wijnaldum
Age:
32
32
B. Cristante
B.Cristante
Age:
28
28
L. Pellegrini
L.Pellegrini
Age:
27
27
N. Zaniolo
N.Zaniolo
Age:
24
24
N. Matić
N.Matić
Age:
35
35
M. Camara
M.Camara
Age:
26
26
E. Darboe
E.Darboe
Age:
22
22
E. Bove
E.Bove
Age:
21
21
C. Volpato
C.Volpato
Age:
19
19
Forwards
Age
Nationality
T. Abraham
T.Abraham
Age:
25
25
A. Belotti
A.Belotti
Age:
29
29
O. Solbakken
O.Solbakken
Age:
25
25
E. Shomurodov
E.Shomurodov
Age:
28
28
S. El Shaarawy
S.El Shaarawy
Age:
30
30
P. Dybala
P.Dybala
Age:
29
29
Carles Pérez
CarlesPérez
Age:
25
25
N. Zalewski
N.Zalewski
Age:
21
21
B. Tahirovic
B.Tahirovic
Age:
20
20
F. Afena-Gyan
F.Afena-Gyan
Age:
20
20
Coach
Age
Nationality
José Mourinho
JoséMourinho
Age:
60
60
A. Spugna
A.Spugna
Age:
49
49

Sevilla Left-Back was sent off the pitch in the second leg of the semifinals against Juventus, hence he would be absent in today’s match.

Sevilla hitmen Suso and Papu Gomez staged their comebacks in training after injury.

Roma Center-back Leonardo Spinazzola returns after injury, Paulo Dybala should also be available since he was present in the training on Monday after his ankle injury, and his supporting striker, Stephan El Shaarawy should be in the line-up for the big game.

Possible Starting Line-ups:

Sevilla: Bounou; Jesús Navas, Badé, Gudelj, Alex Telles; Fernando, Rakitić; Ocampos, Óliver Torres, Bryan Gil; En-Nesyri

Roma: Rui Patrício; Mancini, Smalling, Ibañez; Zeki Çelik, Cristante, Matić, Spinazzola; El Shaarawy, Pellegrini; Abraham

 

The Trophy

Height: 62cm

Weight: 15kg

Design: Silver Cup with a yellow marble plinth

The 2022/23 winners also gain a place in the 2023/24 UEFA Champion League group stage.