In Budapest, Sevilla increased their legend in the Europa League. Against Roma, the Andalusian team won their seventh title in seven finals. Indestructible. It was on penalties, in agony, in an endless game that lasted 147 minutes if added time is included. It was against Mourinho’s Roma. The humble Mendilibar, champion in Preferred, Third, Second B and Second A, took the prize. And now champion of a continental title. In the roulette of penalties, Mancini (Bono saved) and Ibañez (on the stick) failed and Montiel, as in the World Cup final with Argentina, transformed the final one. Although on this occasion with suspense because the goalkeeper had stopped and the referee ordered it to be repeated because he advanced.
Mourinho had speculated the day before about Paulo Dybala’s ankle problems, his most qualified footballer. Almost no one believed him but he didn’t care. The Portuguese, a first-class gambler, wanted to hide his cards until the end, but when push came to shove, he placed Dybala as the starter. With the ball in play, he lasted until the 67th minute on the field. Sufficient time for the Argentine to establish himself as the artist among a forest of ninjas. Those of his team and those of Sevilla. Because the first half hour of the final was more of an air combat than a football match. Up to five stoppages were due to head butts or blows to the face.
It was already going well for Roma, who moved like a fish in water in the mud, between protests. But, in all honesty, the Roman ensemble also demonstrated in the staging that they had the clearest ideas. Rustic but clear. Balls up for Abraham to take them down and for Dybala to appear from the second line. In one of those actions, Spinazzola tested Bono’s reflexes, who was awake. But it served as a warning of what would come next. A ball lost by Rakitic, who called for a free kick, a fast ball from Mancini and a cross from Dybala into the net.
Rome was advancing. Very bad news for Sevilla. Mendilibar’s men had to row against the current against a tough and compact adversary. But at least in the final stretch until the intermission, the Andalusian team recovered its spirit and offensive aggressiveness.
In added time Rakitic was centimeters from equalizing when he connected a tremendous cocoa from the front with his left leg that crashed into the base of the post. There was still a long way to go and no one could bury Sevilla with their precedents in the Europa League finals. Mendilibar wasted no time and made two changes. Suso and Lamela appeared. The Basque coach was looking for more determination and he found it on the fast track.
That Sevilla was another could be verified very soon. He went all out with a lot of desire. And it didn’t take long to balance the score. The incombustible Navas crossed from the right and Mancini, pinned on by En-Nesyri, sent the ball into his own goal.
Sevilla was already here, the one they say never gives up, especially not in their fetish competition. He did not do it against Manchester United and Juventus and he was not going to do it against Mourinho’s team, who had no choice then but to relieve Dybala. He limped off.
The game in this phase had a Sevilla aroma and Roma only threatened from set pieces, as in two saves by Bono from Abraham and Belotti’s shot.
In the other area, the Italian team was saved because the referee annulled, through VAR, a penalty awarded by Ibañez to Ocampos. The romanista had touched the ball and the rectification was successful.
Sevilla continued to break stone and on the verge of extra time Suso and Fernando had the victory close. In extra time, with the tension that was chewing in crescendo, permanent interruptions and Mourinho protesting everything, the score did not move. They decided the penalties.
