The Europa League final takes place tonight against the most successful team in the competition’s history and one of the most successful managers to grace the sport as Sevilla test their fine final record against Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
Los Rojiblancos are remarkably in their seventh Europa League final, having won all previous six, and have knocked out the likes of Manchester United and Juventus en route. Back home, it has been a different story with a long battle against relegation, which they have now avoided, but you cannot rule them out on the continent.
Roma after looking to make it back-to-back European trophies after winning the Europa Conference League last year, and another victory tonight will see Mourinho become the most decorated manager in the history of European competition. Both clubs need to win to qualify for the Champions League, and you can follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Live updates
Final preparations are almost complete as both sets of players head to their dressing rooms.
Sevilla sporting director Monchi has been talking to the press.
“It’ll be difficult because they’re a team who make few mistakes and give little away. You have to beat them – rather than them losing – and try not to commit errors as they live off them.
“Mourinho’s a wily old fox in these contests and he tries to take the pressure off them to put it on us. I don’t know if Smalling, Dybala and Belotti are kids.
“So I don’t think this talk of favourites means much. We’ve got to a good moment after a very tough season. The coach has managed to convince the group of a concept and we’re defending that to the end.”
Here’s the trophy being set up before the game.
Of course, that’s not the only prize up for grabs tonight. Arguably more important (I said, ‘arguably’), is that the winner will also qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Both clubs are unable to qualify via their leagues are inconsistent seasons. Roma have been in dreadful form of late and cannot finish higher than fifth, while Sevilla could miss out on Europe entirely if they don’t win tonight.
So, it’s one change for Sevilla as Mendilibar replaces the suspended Acuna with Telles, on loan from Manchester United, at left-back.
It’s two changes for Roma. Dybala and Smalling come in up front and in defence for Belotti and Bove.
And here’s Roma! Dybala does start.
Sevilla XI
Right on cue! Here’s how Sevilla look.
Early team news from Roma suggests that Dybala is going to start this evening.
We should get confirmed teams quite soon, as the stadium starts to fill up.
Mendilibar thrilled to face Mourinho
Sevilla have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround under Jose Luis Mendilibar.
Joining in March with the club two points above the relegation zone, Mendilibar redefined ‘new manager bounce’ to take them to one point off seventh heading into this weekend’s final game – far better form than Jose Mourinho’s Roma over the same time. And now the 62-year-old is delighted to face one of the sport’s greats.
“I told Mourinho I was delighted to play (against) him in a European final,” he told Movistar Plus. “He has many, this is my first. I hope I’ve played as many finals as Mourinho when my career is over.”
He added: “I’m calm. Maybe you don’t believe me but I feel it’s like one more game, preparing to face our rival with nothing special in mind. I know that there is a lot of expectation. The players want to play and we look forward to the challenge.”
Mourinho: All the pressure is on Sevilla
Jose Mourinho says all the pressure to win the Europa League final is on Sevilla, not his Roma side.
“For (Sevilla), playing in a Europa League final is almost normal, for us it is an extraordinary event,” Mourinho said last night.
“For Sevilla fans, travelling to a European final is like travelling to a game in Spain; for us, however, it is something historic. So we want to make history.
“History doesn’t play the game but history makes them the favourites, we respect it. They have the experience that we don’t have, but we deserve to play this final, we have been saying that for a long time.”
Oh, Jose. Never change.
To say it’s lively in Budapest would be an understatement.
Thousands have made the trips from Seville and Rome for the game, which is the first European final to be held in Hungary since 1985.
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