MY ACCOUNT
– Roma have kept clean sheets in five of their last seven games in this competition
– Roma are bidding to become the fourth Italian side to win consecutive European trophies
– Recommended bet: Roma to lift the trophy
Two masters of European football meet in Budapest on Wednesday night, as kings of the Europa League Sevilla meet Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
While the Spanish side are bidding to lift the trophy for a record seventh time, Mourinho could become European football’s most decorated manager.
Mourinho has won five European trophies dating back to his spell with Porto — level with Giovanni Trapattoni.
The Portuguese tactician can step out on his own with a victory in Hungary, as he looks to guide last season’s Europa Conference League winners to another piece of European silverware.
Team news
Sevilla had a boost coming into the game, with the news that Marcao, Tanguy Nianzou and Joan Jordan were expected to return to fitness ahead of the clash in Budapest.
Midfielder Fernando missed out against Real Madrid at the weekend with a knee injury and he is expected to be ruled out of this clash.
Jose Mourinho rotated players for the weekend defeat at Fiorentina, with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini sitting out, while Tammy Abraham only made a brief cameo — all three are expected to start in the final.
The stats
Sevilla have won just two of their last eight games in all competitions within 90 minutes.
The Spanish side heads into this clash on the back of a four-game winless run.
Roma have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven European clashes.
Jose Mourinho has won all five European finals he has managed in.
Sevilla have won just two of their La Liga clashes with sides in the top 10 this term, losing 12 of those 19 games.
Prediction
While Sevilla’s record in this competition has set them up as favourites, that is arguably a stronger position for Mourinho’s Roma to be in.
The Portuguese is enjoying something of a comeback in Italy, with his signature style of play helping the Giallorossi to battle to the final.
Mourinho certainly did not make any new friends in Leverkusen given the manor of their 1-0 aggregate win over Bayer in the semis, but it was a throwback performance for the Portuguese.
He has positioned Roma as gritty underdogs throughout, even in a reunion with a Feyenoord side who they beat in last season’s Conference League final.
The Giallorossi head into this clash winless in Serie A since mid-April, but Mourinho has been focusing on the latter stages of the Europa League.
Making consecutive European finals is a huge achievement for the Portuguese and he has not lost one to date in his managerial career.
While Roma have struggled of late, Sevilla have only recently risen into mid-table in La Liga.
The Europa League specialists are in an odd position, as the highest they can finish domestically is a Europa Conference League place, while. on the other hand, a win in this final takes them into the Champions League.
Whatever happens, they will not be starting in this competition next season.
Sevilla have lost 14 times in La Liga this term and they have been awful against their top-half rivals.
Defensively they ship too many goals, which could cost them against a Roma side who showed in the semi-final that they can lock down opponents.
Sevilla did manage to topple Juventus in the last round, but Mourinho has a style perfectly suited for one-off games.
His side have been edging big games in Europe since the start of last season, so back them to edge out an inconsistent, leaky Sevilla outfit.
Back Roma to lift the trophy at 10/11 with LiveScore Bet.
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