Sevilla are 2022/23 Europa League champions as the edged out Roma 4-1 on penalties to clinch their seventh Europa League trophy.
Roma lineup: Rui Patricio; Chris Smalling, Gianluca Mancini, Roger Ibanez; Zeki Celik, Bryan Cristante, Nemanja Matic, Leonardo Spinazzola; Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini; Tammy Abraham.
Sevilla linuep: Yassine Bounou; Jesus Navas, Loic Bade, Nemanja Gudelj, Alex Telles; Ivan Rakitic, Fernando; Lucas Ocampos, Oliver Torres, Bryan Gil; Youssef En-Nesyri.
Sevilla started on a good note dominating proceedings. They moved the ball from side to side to the jeers and boos of Roma fans who had their team locked in defense with Jose Mourinho’s 5-3-2 defensive lineup.
Dybala made the first attacking attempt for Roma after he charged up the midfield only to be brought down by Sevilla defender Gudeji. Roma clinched their first free-kick afterward.
Sevilla continued to dominate possession and moved the ball around but could not break through Roma’s defense with Roma appearing more deadly when leading the charge upfield.
In the 34th minute, the Giallorossi hit the curtain-raiser with Dybala on the scoresheet.
The Serie A giants broke through a speedy counter attack after Nemanja Matic dispossessed Ivan Rakitic in the midfield.
After losing possession, Ivan Rakitic appealed for a foul but was ignored by the referee, who signaled the game should be played.
Mancini located Dybala with a swathe of space unmarked before the Argentine fired a left-footed strike into the bottom corner to give Roma the lead.
Sevilla ramped up attempts to find an equaliser but it was a first half deadlock for the record Europa League winners. They could not break through Roma defense and ended the first half trailing by a lone goal.
Jose Mourinho needed the last 45 minutes to maintain a back-to-back European success with Roma after clinching the maiden edition of the Europa Conference League trophy last year.
Sevilla got back into the game in the second half with much intent. They failed to threaten Roma defense for much of the first half but were back with more attacking momentum from the start of the first half.
Roma retreated to their half, lining up their players as the pressure mounted while hoping to offset Sevilla through counter attacks.
The pressure finally yielded result with Mancini scoring an own goal to level the scores for the opponents.
Navas crossed the ball towards the post with Ocampos attempting to flick it in but failed as the ball hits off Mancini and loop pass Roma goalkeeper into the net.
It was a nightmare own goal for Mancini but a lifeline for a possible comeback win for Sevilla.
Sevilla nearly landed a golden opportunity to take the lead minutes later with a penalty call but it was called off after VAR review.
Both sides made late changes to chisel the game all to no avail as they could not be separated after 90 minutes.
The match went into extra time with Sevilla still the better side but it finished 1-1 as Roma held off pressure to drag the game to penalties.
Mancini and Roger Ibanez missed their Penalties as Sevilla ran out 4-1 winners to clinch their record seventh Europa League crown.
