Sevilla and Roma will do battle for the Europa League title on Wednesday in an eagerly-anticipated final.
Who will blink first? Sevilla are the kings of the competition and have a perfect record with six wins from six finals. Jose Mourinho, now in charge of Roma, has never lost a European final.
It’s setting up to be a classic.
Mourinho’s record speaks for itself really. He has two Champions League wins, two Europa League trophies and last year’s triumph in the inaugural Europa Conference League with Roma.
It’s a massive game for Roma as victory would ensure they move into the Champions League. After they edged past Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-finals, they could only finish sixth in Serie A.
But how will they beat Sevilla? While the Spaniards struggled in LaLiga, they are 11th ahead of the final game this weekend, they have been amazing in Europe.
First they came from 2-0 down at one stage in the first leg against Manchester United to see off the English giants before beating Juventus in the semi-finals.
Veteran wing-back Jesus Navas is aiming to win the Europa League for the fourth time, just two months after Jose Mendilibar took charge.
“We transform (on Europa League nights) and it’s incredible how we come out in every match,” said the former Manchester City player.
“It’s a competition that has given us a lot, and the joy it provides us every time we take part in it drives us to go as far as possible.
“What Jose Luis has done with us has been fundamental. He has brought the best out of us, and when you look at the teams we have eliminated, it’s something to be very proud of. He deserves to stay with us for a long time.
“He’s a coach who always pushes us, and who has that work ethic to train hard and get the best out of us. His arrival has coincided with an incredible turnaround in our season.”
Paulo Dybala could miss AS Roma’s Europa League final.
“I don’t think he can play. Honestly, I hope he can make it for the bench. It’s the last game of the season even if after that we have Spezia,” Mourinho told reporters ahead of next Wednesday’s final in Budapest.
“But for Paulo, it would be the last game. I’d be happy if Paulo could go on the bench and play 15 or 20 minutes. Dybala is still with the doctors.”