Sevilla-AS Roma : Preview & Prediction
Considering that six of the last nine UEFA Europa League (UEL) titles have been won by Spanish clubs – Sevilla FC have won four of them – the trophy would go to southern Spain if history were to decide this final. Sevilla, the most successful team in the UEFA/UEF Cup, have won each of their six finals in Europe’s second most important club competition, and Los Blanquirrojos will be looking to add another glorious chapter to their glittering record by beating AS Roma in Budapest on Wednesday.
With their sights set on the European final, José Luis Mendilibar reserved a number of his regular starters against Real Madrid at the Sánchez-Pizjuán on Saturday, and the Nervión outfit failed to earn a point in their last home league fixture of the season (SFC 1-2 RM). Still alive in the race for a European place via LaLiga Santander with a game to spare, Sevilla have failed to win any of their four UEL matches away from Spain this term (E2, P2), part of a run of 13 winless outings in European competition.
The final obstacle for Sevilla in the 14th edition of the UEL is José Mourinho’s Roma, winners of the 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League and looking to become only the fifth Italian club to win back-to-back European titles and the first to do so in this century. Like their opponents, the Giallorossi lost 2-1 last weekend (away to Fiorentina, 37th Serie A matchday).
The similarities do not end there. Roma have also failed to win in their last four UEL matches away from Italy (E2, P2), with the added bonus that Mourinho’s side have not scored in that series. Mourinho, just two years younger than Mendilibar, will be looking to end that run in Roma’s first European game in Hungary and become the most successful manager in the history of major European club competitions. The Special One has won five UEFA titles in his career.
Key battle: Erik Lamela, formerly of Roma, has scored two of his last three UEL goals against Italian clubs, including the winner against Juventus in extra time in the semi-final. It remains to be seen whether the Blancos winger can beat Rui Patrício, the player with the most appearances in UEL history (68). In five of his last seven appearances in the competition, the Portuguese goalkeeper has kept a clean sheet.
Weekend stat: The previous 13 UEL finals have averaged 2.92 goals per game.
Sevilla-AS Roma : Betting Tips
AS Roma – Win Odds: 2.90
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