Sevilla vs Roma

Budapest’s Puskas Arena forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering UEFA Europa League final between record-time winners Sevilla and reigning Europa Conference League holders Roma.

Sevilla’s road to their seventh appearance in the Europa League final this century saw them overcome continental heavyweights Manchester United and Juventus in the two previous knockout rounds, proving it’s no wonder many consider them ‘Europa League specialists.’ Yet to lose a grand final in Europe’s second-tier competition, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ come into proceedings on the back of a 2-1 La Liga loss at Real Madrid, which brought their six-game unbeaten run in all competitions to a halt (W2, D4 – 90mins only. However, Jose Luis Mendilibar’s men lament a poor track record outside Spain this season, going winless in all four Europa League fixtures outside their homeland (D2, L2). That run forms part of an ominously-looking 13-match winless streak on foreign soil in major European competitions, casting doubt on Sevilla’s effort to lift a record-extending seventh Europa League crown.

After leading Roma to Europa Conference League glory in his first season in charge, Jose Mourinho is looking to become the first manager to win the Europa League with three different clubs, having done so with Porto and Manchester United so far. Keen to become the first Serie A club to win Europe’s second-tier competition since Parma in 1998/99, ‘I Giallorossi’ have booked a final date despite failing to score in all four Europa League knockout legs away from home (D2, L2). However, Roma’s four-match winless run (D3, L1) in the build-up to the showpiece event cannot inspire much confidence, and neither can the fact they lost their only previous Europa League clash against Sevilla 2-0. But after sacrificing their Serie A duties in favor of pursuing continental glory, Roma must win here to secure Champions League qualification for next season.