Sevilla maintained the Europa League winner (Photo credit: Getty Images
Sevilla maintained their flawless record in the Europa League final by securing their seventh title in as many attempts. In a thrilling match that took place in Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday, they clinched victory over Jose Mourinho’s Roma in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Sevilla’s fans displayed their confidence with a Tifo proclaiming, “This competition is ours,” and their belief was justified. The Spanish team, known for their remarkable success in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, continued their dominance by winning the tournament for the seventh time. This puts them four titles ahead of any other club, with Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, and Atletico Madrid all having three victories.
Although Roma took an early lead with Paolo Dybala’s well-placed goal, Sevilla’s persistent efforts paid off when Gianluca Mancini’s own goal leveled the score in the second half. In the penalty shootout, Roma’s two missed penalties opened the door for Gonzalo Montiel, who had previously scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the World Cup final against France. With nerves of steel, Montiel stepped up and sealed the victory for Sevilla.
Don Hutchinson, a former Scotland and Everton midfielder, expressed his amazement at Sevilla’s consistent success in the Europa League, drawing a parallel to Real Madrid’s dominance in the Champions League. He highlighted the fear opponents have when facing Sevilla in European competitions.
This season’s triumph holds even greater significance when considering the circumstances surrounding manager Jose Luis Mendilibar’s appointment. With the team battling relegation from La Liga, Mendilibar took charge in mid-March. Under his guidance, the 62-year-old led the team to safety in the league. Remarkably, in just his sixth European match as a manager, he secured another Europa League victory for Sevilla.