Seven out of seven, who says better? No one at the moment. In front of more than 10,000 of their fans in a trance, Sevilla FC won its seventh Europa League on Wednesday in Budapest, in as many finals, on penalties (4-1) against AS Roma (1-1 ap) from Jose Mourinho.
The red and white club, very close to relegation to La Liga just two months ago, continues its crazy statistics: it therefore remains undefeated in the Europa League final with seven crowns, a record (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020). In the mid-table in La Liga (11th), Sevilla is once again on the roof of little Europe and in the world of European football, with this qualification for the Champions League next year.
Yassine Bounou named man of the match
During the penalty shootout, Sevilla’s Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, elected man of the match, repelled Gianluca Mancini’s second Roman attempt with his toes, then put pressure and deflected Roger Ibanez’s attempt with his fingertips, who hit the post (4-1).
To get there, the Spaniards never gave up throughout the European campaign. Third in their group in C1, Sevilla successively took out PSV Eindhoven (3-0, 0-2), Fenerbahçe (2-0, 0-1), Manchester United (2-2, 3-0) and Juventus ( 1-1, 2-1) to reach this final.
Rome opened the scoring
Despite the opening of the score of AS Roma (35th) by the Argentinian Paulo Dybala, announced injured, the Sevillians continued their siege in front of the Roman surface. Throughout the first period, they struggled to enter the last 30 meters Italian, blocked by the very compact defense.
In the second half, Sevilla continued to dominate Rome, which ended up flinching (55th). On the right, Jesus Navas, 37 and the oldest player in the final since 2008, crossed towards former Marseille player Lucas Ocampos who missed his recovery in front of goal. But the ball fell on the knee of Romain Mancini, who took his goalkeeper on the wrong foot.
Mourinho intends to “stay at AS Roma”
Always dominating in the game and the duels, the Spaniards faced resistance from the Italians who avoided a penalty (77th) canceled by the VAR for a supposed contact on Ocampos. On a free kick (83rd), the Romans were very close to passing in front but Andrea Belotti stumbled on the Moroccan goalkeeper, author of a superb save. In an unbridled end to the match, the two teams did not really separate, racing towards extra time, where little happened.
José Mourinho had never lost a European final in his career and will not win his sixth European title for the moment. The season is also a failure for Rome, which remains seven games without a win and a sixth place in Serie A, without Europe next year. Announced in several clubs, in particular in an insistent way at PSG, Mourinho however assured after the defeat that he wanted to “stay at AS Roma”.