Sevilla has won the Europa League for the seventh time, setting a new record after beating AS Roma 4-1 on penalties. The match was tense and ill-tempered, with 14 yellow cards issued – the most ever in a Europa League game. After extra time, the match ended in a 1-1 draw before proceeding to a penalty shootout. Sevilla ruthlessly punished Roma with Gonzalo Montiel scoring the winning spot-kick, just as he did for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final against France. Sevilla’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, was the hero in the shootout, saving penalties from Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez, while the Spaniards were flawless in their execution, scoring their first four.
Sevilla is now the undisputed kings of the Europa League, having won all seven of the finals they have played in the competition. Despite Roma taking the lead from a counter-attack in the 35th minute, Sevilla managed to find an equalizer in the 55th minute thanks to an own goal by Mancini. The match was tetchy, and referee Anthony Taylor played almost 30 minutes of stoppage time in total.
Languishing in the bottom half of LaLiga for much of the season and firing two managers along the way, Sevilla only rediscovered their form after exiting the Champions League. Their run to the final saw them beat PSV Eindhoven, Fenerbahce, Manchester United, and Juventus. The win means Sevilla will compete in next season’s Champions League despite finishing outside the top four in LaLiga.
Mourinho had never lost a European final before Wednesday, having last year led Roma to the inaugural Europa Conference League title, becoming the first coach to win all European trophies. It was clear that losing was a painful experience for him, and he handed his runners-up medal to a fan in the stand after the presentation.
Sevilla’s victory is a triumph after an otherwise difficult season. Speaking to Spanish TV channel Movistar Plus, Lucas Ocampos said, “It was a Sevilla-style match. We have to suffer to win…What we have with this competition is something that cannot be explained.” Ultimately, it was another unforgettable night of football for Sevilla, who have cemented their place as a formidable force to be reckoned with in European competitions.
