Sevilla vs Roma – Final – Preview & Prediction | 2022-23 UEFA Europa League
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THE FACTS
When is Sevilla vs Roma on and what time does it start? Sevilla vs Roma will take place on Wednesday 31st May, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where is Sevilla vs Roma taking place? Sevilla vs Roma will take place at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary
Where can I get tickets for Sevilla vs Roma? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Sevilla vs Roma on in the UK? BT Sport have the rights to televise the UEFA Europa League in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule to see if Sevilla vs Roma will be televised
Where can I stream Sevilla vs Roma in the UK? BT Sport subscribers can stream Sevilla vs Roma live on the BT Sport Player & app
THE LOWDOWN
SEVILLA
The most successful club in Europa League history have the opportunity to write another chapter in their remarkable love-story with this competition. Victory here would see them lift this trophy for an unprecedented seventh time and for the fifth time over the past nine years. No one can deny them their place in the final, having come through a multitude of tests against a number of European giants to book their spot in Budapest. After beating Premier League side Man Utd in the quarter-finals, Sevilla then proceeded to knock out Juventus in the semi-finals, overcoming the Italians by three goals to two on aggregate after extra time.
The most impressive aspect of Sevilla’s triumph over Juventus was how they mentally recovered from conceding a 97th minute equaliser in the first-leg. Such a moment will have seen Juventus travel to Spain full of confidence and momentum, but this Sevilla side are made of far stronger foundations than earlier in the season. Despite falling behind in the second half, they pulled level through winger Suso, before finishing the job in extra time, Erik Lamela netting the all-important winner.
ROMA
With that precious one-goal aggregate lead accrued in Rome against Bayer Leverkusen, Jose Mourinho’s men produced a defensive masterclass in the second-leg of Roma’s semi-final tie with the Bundesliga outfit. To surrender over 70% of possession, but still keep a clean sheet is a testament to Roma’s levels of concentration and work rate off the ball. Having not conceded across both legs of the semi-final, the Italian giants enter Budapest full of confidence and with the relatively recent experience of triumphing in a big European final. This should prove priceless to the players across the build-up of this match.
That final of course, was for the inaugural Europa Conference League, which saw Roma overcome Arne Slot’s Feyenoord by one goal to nil. That victory completed the European set for Jose Mourinho, who has now lifted all three major European titles available to him. To win the Europa League once again though, would represent one of his finest achievements and Roma’s biggest success story since winning Serie A back in 2001. It would be the third time he has lifted the trophy, having done so with Porto in 2003 when the competition was known as the UEFA Cup, and most recently with Man Utd in 2017.
THE TEAM NEWS
SEVILLA
The biggest headache for the Spaniards leading into this one is the suspension of Marcos Acuna, who was sent off in extra time against Juventus. The full-back is expected to be replaced by Alex Telles, although Acuna’s fellow countryman Gonzalo Montiel could in at left-back despite his favoured position being on the right-hand-side. Elsewhere, defenders Marcao and Tanguy Nianzou are both doubtful, although neither would be likely to replace the centre-back pairing of Loic Bade and Nemanja Gudelj.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Telles; Fernando, Rakitic; Ocampos, Torres, Gil; En-Nesyri
UNAVAILABLE: Acuna (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Marcao (Injured), Nianzou (Injured)
ROMA
Expect the numerous players rested this past weekend to come back into the starting line-up here for Roma. Those players include Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nemanja Matic and Roger Ibanez, along with fellow defender Bryan Cristante. Left-back Leonard Spinazzola has returned to training ahead of the final, but should the Italian not be fit enough to start, Nicola Zalewski will likely take his place. Tammy Abraham, the man who scored the winner last year against Feyenoord should also feature from the start.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Patricio; Mancini, Cristante, Ibanez; Zeki Çelik, Bove, Matic, Spinazzola; Pellegrini; Belotti, Abraham
UNAVAILABLE: Karsdorp (Injured), Kumbulla (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Dybala (Fitness), Spinazzola (Fitness)
THE PREDICTION
One thing you would expect between these two teams is an extremely tight affair, just as it was in Tirana last year when a single goal was enough for Roma to lift the UEFA Conference League. Defensively under Jose Mourinho, the Italians will not be easy for Sevilla to break down, as Bayer Leverkusen found out to their cost, so the six-time Europa League champions will have to stay patient throughout this one, waiting for the right opportunity to pounce and making sure they don’t get caught on the counter-attack. Goals are likely to be in short supply across this match, regardless of the final outcome and backing under 1.5 goals to be scored over the course of 90 minutes between Sevilla and Roma is well worth backing.
TIP: UNDER 1.5 GOALS
