Europa League final preview: Sevilla vs Roma

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

When is it? What channel is it on? What are the possible line-ups? What's the prize? All you need to know about the UEFA Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma.

Sevilla meet Roma in the UEFA Europa League final at Budapest's Puskás Aréna on Wednesday 31 May.

Sevilla vs Roma at a glance

When: Wednesday 31 May (21:00 CET kick-off)Where: Puskás Aréna, BudapestWhat: UEFA Europa League finalHow to follow: Build-up and live coverage can be found here

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.

The most successful side in the history of the competition, Sevilla have the opportunity to win the trophy for a seventh time at the end of what has been a trying season. Under their third coach of the campaign, José Luis Mendilibar, they have staved off relegation fears at home and eliminated Manchester United and Juventus en route to Budapest.

Roma have had a less fraught campaign domestically but have once more been enjoying their Thursday nights. Having guided his side to the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League title last season, José Mourinho is now angling to be the first coach to win this competition with three different sides, having done so with both Porto (2002/03) and United (2016/17).

Sevilla: Bounou; Jesús Navas, Badé, Gudelj, Alex Telles; Fernando, Rakitić; Ocampos, Óliver Torres, Bryan Gil; En-Nesyri

Roma: Rui Patrício; Mancini, Smalling, Ibañez; Zeki Çelik, Cristante, Matić, Spinazzola; El Shaarawy, Pellegrini; Abraham

SevillaForm (all competitions, most recent first): LDDWWDWhere they stand: 11th in Spanish Liga

Roma Form: LDDDWLWhere they stand: 6th in Italian Serie A

Simon Hart, Sevilla reporterWe have seen a stunning transformation in Sevilla's form and fortunes over the past couple of months. Before Mendilibar's arrival at the end of March their priority for this season had been securing survival in La Liga.

Yet here they are one step away from lifting their favourite trophy once more, having lost just one game under the Basque coach and beaten two of European football's biggest names – Manchester United and Juventus – to get to this final.

With key players flourishing at the perfect time under a coach who has brought clarity and confidence – and the deep inner conviction which comes from six previous UEFA Cup/Europa League triumphs – they will face Roma with a surplus of self-belief... and that feeling that this is their year yet again.

Francesco Corda, Roma reporterEverything comes down to these 90 minutes. The final against Sevilla could give Roma back-to-back European trophies, UEFA Champions League qualification and the chance to play in the UEFA Super Cup, so the stakes are high.

Mourinho hopes to have key players like Chris Smalling and Paulo Dybala back to full fitness after their recent injuries and the Argentinian's return, in particular, would be instrumental in helping the Roma attack, who have had some struggles this season.

Against the six-time champions, the Giallorossi will need the usual great defensive performance and heart, but also goals and Dybala's left foot would certainly help their cause.

José Luis Mendilibar, Sevilla coach: "Mistakes are what you pay for in games like this and it's about making the fewest mistakes possible. We've eliminated big teams but the most difficult one is ahead of us. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes will win. Roma are a very strong team defensively. I don't think they need many chances to score and to win. They are comfortable if they have to defend close to their area but also if they have to step forward and press. They don't get nervous, they are calm. And we need to play with that same calm too."

Ivan Rakitić, Sevilla midfielder: "The coach has been very clear from the start about what he wants. This won't change tomorrow. We have to be ourselves. When we say nobody loves the competition like we do, it's not because some bright spark in the club offices said it. It's because we think that way. We have to play the perfect game and win the cup and bring it home."

José Mourinho, Roma coach: "History does not play. My colleague [Mendilibar] believes that history makes Sevilla favourites, I respect that. We are in the final because we deserved to be, they have a history that we do not have. For them to play the final is a normal thing, for us it is an extraordinary event. I have had more opportunities to play in European competitions, but Mendilibar is of the same generation as me, with the same white hair. We are on an equal footing. It's the same for the players: Sevilla have more experience, but we've been playing together for two years."

Lorenzo Pellegrini, Roma captain: "Knowing how to approach a match tactically does not mean attacking like crazy and allowing your opponent to score. For me, to approach the game in a right tactical way is to try to limit your opponent. We analysed all the teams and tried to figure out how to contain their strengths. We managed because we are in the final. To sacrifice and make an extra run for your team-mate is not leaving the bus in front of the goal but wanting to be here."

What do the 2023 Europa League winners get?

The UEFA Europa League trophy stands at 65cm tall and weighs 15kg. A silver cup on a yellow marble plinth, it was designed and crafted by the Bertoni workshop in Milan. Just above the plinth, a group of players seem to be jostling for the ball, when, in fact, they are supporting the octagonal 'cup' which is emblazoned with the UEFA emblem.

The 2022/23 winners also gain a place in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage.