UEFA is expected to end up giving the Europa League trophy to the Sevillians as soon as they qualify for the final. Friday in Cologne, the Andalusians beat Inter Milan at the end of a meeting with twists (3-2) and won their sixth Europa League, the absolute record of the event won in less than fifteen years.
In "raising the curtain" of the shock PSG-Bayern, Sunday in the Champions League final, Sevilla relied on the head game of its striker Luuk de Jong, author of a double in the first half (12th, 33rd), and an incredible return from his defender Diego Carlos, well helped by Romelu Lukaku, who stuck the Italian defense a quarter of an hour from the end.
This Cup, delivered behind closed doors in Cologne, extends the Andalusian stranglehold on this event: they hold more than ever the record for victories in C3, with six trophies in six finals contested (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 , 2020).
A nice revenge for Lopetegui
With 12 coronations now, according to UEFA data, Spain is also the country with the most success in this competition ahead of ... Italy (9), whose last title dates back to the 20th century (Parma in 1999 ). One way to save the continental La Liga season after the early elimination of Real Madrid in the Champions League and the historic slap received by Barcelona against Bayern (2-8).
A great revenge also for coach Julen Lopetegui, after his failures at Real Madrid and in the Spanish selection. His Inter counterpart, Antonio Conte, who recalled Thursday that only the winners of a final are remembered, misses the opportunity to win a first European trophy after his national titles with Juventus and Chelsea.
His team had yet started well by opening the scoring in the 5th minute thanks to a penalty obtained and transformed by the inevitable Romelu Lukaku (5th), surrounded by Diego Carlos. The Belgian scored his 34th goal of the season in all competitions, equaling Brazilian Ronaldo in his first indoor season (1997-1998).
Inter then lost the thread a bit, and Conte first received a yellow card for claiming too vehemently a penalty for a hand from Carlos (17th). Seville, for its part, did not panic. Luuk de Jong, preferred in attack to the Moroccan En-Nesyri, put the Andalusians right side up with a header: on a cross from Navas in the 12th then on a free kick from Banega (33rd).
A stunning Diego Carlos
To keep the Milanese boat afloat, the experienced Godin (2 victories in C3) was needed to come, also from the head, to come equalize without delay (2-2, 36th). Insufficient in the face of the rage of the Sevillian defenders. That of the goalkeeper Bono, who won a decisive face-to-face against Lukaku, who started alone full axis (65th), that of Koundé who saved his team on the line in front of Alexis Sanchez (82nd).
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And especially that of the former Nantes player Diego Carlos, who was forgiven in the most beautiful way for the penalty caused at the start of the match by going to score Sevilla's third goal from an improbable return (74th), the ball however seeming no framed and deflected into the goal by Lukaku.
What to leave the Milanese head down and Antonio Conte defeated. Hired at a gold price a year ago to make the club shine again and try to dethrone Juve in Serie A, the Italian coach ends up without a trophy and must now raise doubts about his future, born after offensive statements towards its direction.
For the players, it's finally vacation time, at the end of an endless season due to coronavirus and an unprecedented final tournament, behind closed doors, in Germany. Holidays necessarily short because La Liga resumes on September 12 and Serie A on September 19.