Sevilla meet AS Roma at Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary, in the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League Final.
Sevilla enter this match aiming to claim a seventh Europa League title, whilst Roma are chasing their first title at this level after finishing runners-up in 1990-91 season to Inter Milan.
Team News
Marcos Acuna is suspended for Sevilla after he was red carded in the second leg victory of their semi-final tie against Juventus, having picked up two yellow card bookings.
Manager – Jose Luis Mendilibar could recal key players including; Jesus Navas, Alex Telles, Fernando and Youssef En-Nesyri, having rested several players in their defeat against Real Madrid last weekend.
Pape Gueye and Jesus Corona are ineligible after being left out of Sevilla’s Europa League squad list.
AS Roma could be without striker, Paulo Dybala after an ankle injury kept him out of their last four matches, although he is back in first-team training and set to face a late fitness test.
Mady Camara (unspecified), Rick Karsdrop and Marash Kumbulla (both knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Sevilla meet Roma at Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday 31 May at 9pm CEST (8pm UK Time), with BT Sport 1 broadcasting the final live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Sevilla won their only previous meeting against Roma in their Round of 16 tie in August 2020, prevailing 2-0 at a neutral venue after both legs were postponed due to Coronavirus pandemic.
- AS Roma are chasing their first win against Sevilla in all competitions.
- Sevilla have avoided defeat in just three of 10 previous meetings against a team managed by Jose Mourinho in all competitions (W2, D1, L7).
- Sevilla have kept just three clean sheets in this season’s knockout stage (W4, D2, L2).
- Stephan El Shaarawy and Paulo Dybala are Roma’s top goalscorers in the knockout stages with two goals apiece.
Prediction
As Europa League specialists, Sevilla certainly won’t hold any fear having won every final that they’ve featured in within this competitions, yet are winless in their last three matches in all competitions but I can’t see that stopping them here if they can play their best football.
Sevilla though are a team which can pick up a lot of bookings so I do expect them to come out and play their aggressive style of play, which certainly proved troublesome for Manchester United and Juventus to handle.
Roma meanwhile are appearing in only their second final in this competition but are managed by a serial winner in Jose Mourinho, of which the Portuguese has a strong record against Sevilla and knows how to play dirty against opposition as Bayer Leverkusen discovered in their semi-final.
The first goal is therefore going to be absolutely pivotal and Sevilla will be super motivated to win here, especially because this is their only realistic route into Europe next season with qualification via La Liga realistically out of their hands barring a miracle.
Either way, this match does feel like it could be close but Sevilla have that winning experience which could prove that all important difference.
Prediction: Sevilla 1-0 AS Roma
Result: Sevilla 1-1 AS Roma (Sevilla win 4-1 on penalties!!)
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