Sevilla Wins 2023 Europa League Final : Sevilla continued their rich tradition in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) as a penalty shootout victory over Roma at the Puskás Aréna saw the Nervionenses secure a record-extending seventh title, while inflicting a first-ever European final defeat on José Mourinho in the process.
Gonzalo Montiel, the scorer of the winning penalty in the FIFA World Cup final, hit the decisive spot-kick once more as Sevilla extended their love-affair with this competition.
Having won each of their last six final appearances in UEFA’s second-tier club competition, Sevilla came into the contest knowing the omens were firmly stacked in their favour as they looked to secure a fifth UEL title in 10 years.
However, a clash against Roma – last season’s Europa Conference League (UECL) winners – promised to be a stern test, and it was the Italian side who missed the game’s first gilt-edged opportunity, with Leonardo Spinazzola firing straight at Yassine Bounou when well-placed inside the box.
Given the magnitude of the fixture, it came as no surprise that neither side were able to fully stamp their authority on proceedings during a cagey opening half-hour.
However, with HT looming, Roma upped the ante in pursuit of a breakthrough, and the Giallorossi were soon celebrating a superb opener. Played through on goal by Gianluca Mancini, Paulo Dybala took one touch to compose himself, before sweeping a low finish beyond Bounou to give Mourinho’s side a deserved lead.
That goal sparked the six-time winners into life as they probed for an immediate response before the interval, but Ivan Rakitić saw a powerful strike cannon against the base of the post, as the Roma rearguard held firm under pressure.
Bruised, but not defeated, Sevilla emerged after the restart with renewed focus, and their improvement was rewarded with an equaliser in the 55th minute. Jesús Navas was the architect, curling a brilliant delivery into the six-yard box towards Youssef En-Nesyri, and it was the unfortunate Mancini who got the final touch, inadvertently directing the ball past Rui Patrício to level the scores.
With nothing to separate the two sides going into the final 20 minutes, Sevilla thought they’d been given a golden opportunity to take the lead when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot following a clumsy challenge on Lucas Ocampos.
However, a VAR review followed and the decision was soon overturned, much to the disbelief of the Andalusian side. Fuelled by a sense of injustice, Sevilla dominated possession as they chased a late winner, but it was Bounou who came to the Nervionenses’ rescue at the other end, denying Andrea Belotti with a magnificent fingertip save.
Grateful for that reprieve, Sevilla looked to reassert themselves in extra time, but clear-cut chances came at a premium as both sides struggled to find any kind of quality in the final third, leaving the contest to be settled by a penalty shootout.
In a battle of nerve, Roma were first to buckle under pressure as Mancini fired his spot-kick against the legs of Bounou and Roger Ibañez struck the post, giving Montiel the opportunity to send Patrício the wrong way and secure a historic seventh title for the kings of the UEL.
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