Sevilla and its eternal romance with the Europa League Premium

The romance between Sevilla and the Europa League isn’t a recent occurrence. Before Thursday’s final against Roma, it had already won the title six times, with its first coming in 2006. But the record-extending seventh title will go down as a special win in the annals of Europa League history because of the fight the team showed.

Sometimes, a perfect script lays in anticipation, waiting to be narrated to the world. One which has all the usual elements thatwould enrapture its audience. The highs, the lows, the struggleand eventually, the triumph. Some stories never get old, no matter how many times they are repeated.

The romance between Sevilla and the Europa League isn’t a recent occurrence. Before Thursday’s final against Roma, it had already won the title six times, with its first coming in 2006. But the record-extending seventh title will go down as a special win in the annals of Europa League history because of the fight the team showed.

Leading up tothe 2022-23 Europa League title clash, a record was meant to bebroken one way or the other. In one corner was Sevilla, which had never lost in the final. On the other, was Roma, managed by Jose Mourinho, who had never lost a European final in his illustrious managerial career. It was the perfect buildup.

It was a long duel, but in the end, Sevilla landed the knockout blow.

WithRoma’s Paulo Dybala scoring in the first half and Gianluca Mancini putting the ball inside his own net in the second, the scores were level at 1-1 after 120 minutes of football. The match went to penalties.

In the shootout, Roma succumbed to the pressure first. The night turned from bad to worse for Mancini, who saw his spot-kick saved by Yassine Bounou’s outstretched leg. With Rakitic scoring the next penalty, the pressure was on Roger Ibanezto keep his team alive. Unfortunately for him, the post stood as a hindrance.

That there’s a certain aura associated between Sevilla and the Europa League, was proven by how the Andalusians won the title. All eyes were on Gonzalo Montiel as he lined up totake the deciding penalty — the same guy who immortalised Lionel Messi’s Argentina by scoring the winning spot-kick against France in the Qatar World Cup final.