Sevilla have won their seventh Europa League title, the most of any club, defeating Roma 4-1 on penalties after drawing 1-1 across 120 minutes of intense football. The win for the Spanish side means that Jose Mourinho’s record of winning every European final he has managed is now over.
In addition, Sevilla have now qualified for next season’s Champions League in spite of being well outside the qualification spots in the league. Roma, on the other hand, can hope for another year in the Europa League at best, if they can overtake Atalanta who are two points ahead of them.
3 talking points as Sevilla win seventh Europa League title on penalties
Sevilla fight back after cagey first half
Neither team was able to create many meaningful chances during the initial part of the game. However, there were many physical contests throughout the pitch which only added to the closeness and intensity of the match. Resolute defending from both teams set up a contest that looked set to be decided by one goal.
There was only one shot in the first 25 minutes of the match – a rather tame effort from Leonardo Spinazzola. However, things opened up a bit after Paulo Dybala’s opening goal – which was set up in bizarre fashion. No one was marking Gianluca Mancini or Bryan Cristante after the latter was found. Mancini found Dybala’s run with a great pass, and the Argentine found the back of the net with his left foot to make it 1-0 for Roma.
Sevilla had several chances through headers, the best of which fell to Fernando. However, they were not able to test Rui Patricio enough to cause problems until Ivan Rakitic’s incredible long-range effort which had the keeper beat, but bounced back off the post.
An own goal in the second half drew the game, and the two teams could not be separated till penalties.
Penalty heartbreak for Roma
Mourinho’s record with penalty shootouts has not been as impressive as the rest of his managerial career. He has now lost three UCL semifinals on penalties, and Roma have lost two European finals on penalties with the previous one being the European Cup final against Liverpool in 1984.
Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez both missed, while Rui Patricio was unable to save any of Sevilla’s penalties.
As a result, Italian clubs have lost both of the finals against Sevilla in the Europa League, the last of which involved Inter.
What next for Mourinho?
The absence of funds and investment means that Jose Mourinho might not stay at Roma next season. The special one has refrained from commenting on his future in the immediate aftermath of the game. But, there have been contacts from PSG over their bench. And it seems likely that he could make the move to France next season.
But if this truly is the end for his time in Roma, then we can say without a doubt that he turned their fortunes around from when he came in. A European trophy, and another European final later, Roma are in a much better place overall than before the arrival of the Portuguese. And it is unfortunate that they aren’t able to ascertain his stay for another season.
