2023 Europa League Winners: Nail-Biter Decided in Penalties

Nail-Biter Decided in Penalties

Sevilla became the 2023 Europa League winners in stunningly dramatic fashion. Argentina World Cup hero Gonzalo Montiel scored the winning penalty in the shootout following a 1-1 draw vs. AS Roma through normal and extra time. At this point, Sevilla and the Europa League are synonymous. The Spanish side have won all seven appearances in Europa League finals. Along with their record seventh Europa League crown, they also spoiled Jose Mourinho’s perfect 5-0 record in the European finals. Now, let’s look at how Sevilla took home yet another trophy.

Match Summary/Highlights

Despite playing relatively well in the first half, Sevilla conceded first in the Europa League final. Paulo Dybala, who was a doubt for Roma before the match, converted on a brilliant through ball from Gianluca Mancini in the 35th minute.

Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic hit the post shortly after as the score stood 1-0 Roma heading into halftime. Ten minutes into the second half, Sevilla captain Jesus Navas put in a cross that deflected off of Mancini into the back of the Roma net. With the scores level, Sevilla were awarded a penalty by referee Anthony Taylor, but he overturned it following a VAR review.

Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was a standout as he saved close-range efforts from Tammy Abraham and Andrea Belotti. Roma hit the crossbar deep into extra time, but the match went into penalty kicks, as neither team could break the deadlock.

Mourinho’s penalty-taker selection backfired, as the first three were all defensive-minded players. Bounou made saves on penalties from Roma’s Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez as all four Sevilla players made their penalties. A 4-1 shootout win sealed Sevilla’s status as 2023 Europa League winners.

Sevilla’s Title Run

It was quite a circuitous route to the Europa League final for Sevilla, which began in the 2022-23 Champions League group stage. Sevilla struggled both in La Liga and the UCL group stage. They managed to win just one of their six group-stage matches en route to a third-place finish in Group G.

That meant a place in the Europa League playoff. Around the same time, they were languishing in La Liga’s relegation zone. In February’s Europa League playoff, Sevilla took on PSV, who finished second in the Group A Europa League standings.

Sevilla won the first leg 3-0 and fell 2-0 in the second to advance to the round of 16. Then, Los Rojiblancos beat Fenerbahce 2-1 on aggregate, which set up a quarterfinal meeting with Manchester United. United scored two early goals in the first leg, and Sevilla looked done and dusted. However, Sevilla came back late in the second half to level proceedings ahead of the second leg.

Sevilla won 3-0 and advanced to the semifinal as Youssef En-Nesyri scored a brace there. Sevilla took Juventus to extra time in the semis, and an Erik Lamela header broke the tie and sent Sevilla to their seventh UEL final.

What’s Next?

With their penalty shootout victory, 2023 Europa League winners Sevilla sealed a berth in next season’s Champions League group stage. They’ll join Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad as Spain’s fifth participant.

After neither Julen Lopetegui nor Jorge Sampaoli could get Sevilla’s season on track, Jose Luis Mendilibar took over as Sevilla’s manager just two months ago. He had never previously won a major trophy in a nearly 30-year managerial career. If Sevilla extends his contract, Mendilibar will manage in Europe’s premier club competition.

Sevilla, who are only in 11th in La Liga, take on Real Sociedad in their final match of the La Liga season on Sunday. Had Los Sevillistas lost on Wednesday’s Europa League Schedule, it would have been a highly consequential match in a bid to reach the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Now, Sevilla have no particular impetus to win the match. Roma are in sixth place heading into Serie A’s final day and will play in next season’s Europa League if they finish ahead of seventh-placed Juventus. A win over Spezia will be enough for Roma to make that a reality.

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