2023 UEFA Europa League final explained

2023 UEFA Europa League final
Team1:Sevilla
Team1score:1
Team2:Roma
Team2score:1
Details:After extra time
Sevilla won 4–1 on penalties
Stadium:Puskás Aréna
City:Budapest
Man Of The Match1a:Yassine Bounou (Sevilla)[1]
Referee:Anthony Taylor (England)[2]
Attendance:61,476
Weather:Clear night
18°C
63% humidity[3]
Previous:2022
Next:2024

The 2023 UEFA Europa League final was the final match of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League, the 52nd season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 14th season since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League. The match was played at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on 31 May 2023,[4] [5] between Spanish club Sevilla and Italian club Roma. Due to the postponement and relocation of the 2020 final, the final hosts were shifted back a year, with Budapest instead hosting the 2023 final.[6]

Sevilla won the match 4–1 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time for their record seventh UEFA Cup/Europa League title.[7] [8] As winners, they qualified for the group stage of the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League, and earned the right to play against the winners of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League, Manchester City, in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup.[9] The final was also noted for controversial refereeing decisions by Anthony Taylor.

Background

Sevilla were aiming for their record-extending seventh UEFA Cup/Europa League title, having won their previous finals in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2020. Their manager José Luis Mendilibar was seeking the first major title in his managerial career.

Roma were into their fourth European final and seeking their first UEFA Cup/Europa League title, having lost the 1984 European Cup final and the 1991 UEFA Cup final as well as winning the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League. Manager José Mourinho was also looking to win his second consecutive European title with Roma. He could become the first manager since Rafael Benítez in 2005 to win two different major European trophies in consecutive seasons, and the first of the five managers to achieve that twice, having done so with Porto in 2004. He also had the chance to become the first manager to win six major European competition titles and also the first to have won the UEFA Cup/Europa League with three distinct clubs, having won the 2002–03 UEFA Cup with Porto and the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League with Manchester United.[10]

Both clubs had met in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League knockout phase round of 16, which was only occurred in a single tie because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. Sevilla won the game 2–0.

Previous finals

In the following table, the finals until 2009 were in the UEFA Cup era, and since 2010 in the UEFA Europa League era.

TeamPrevious final appearances (bold indicates winners)
Sevilla6 (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020)
Roma1 (1991)

Venue

The match was the first UEFA Cup/Europa League final to be held in Budapest, and the second final in the competition's history to be held in Hungary after the 1985 first leg.[11] The final was also the third UEFA club competition final to be held in the city after the 2019 UEFA Women's Champions League final and the 2020 UEFA Super Cup,[6] making it the fourth overall UEFA club final in Hungary. The stadium was also chosen as a venue for UEFA Euro 2020, where it hosted three group stage matches and a round of 16 fixture.[12]

Host selection

The Puskás Aréna was selected as the final host by the UEFA Executive Committee during their meeting in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 2 March 2020.[13]

On 17 June 2020, the UEFA Executive Committee announced that due to the postponement and relocation of the 2020 final, Budapest would instead host the 2023 final.[6]

Route to the final

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

SevillaRound Roma
Champions LeagueEuropa League
OpponentResultGroup stage (CL, EL)OpponentResult
Manchester City0–4 (H)Matchday 1 Ludogorets Razgrad1–2 (A)
Copenhagen0–0 (A)Matchday 2 HJK3–0 (H)
Borussia Dortmund1–4 (H)Matchday 3 Real Betis1–2 (H)
Borussia Dortmund1–1 (A)Matchday 4 Real Betis1–1 (A)
Copenhagen3–0 (H)Matchday 5 HJK2–1 (A)
Manchester City1–3 (A)Matchday 6 Ludogorets Razgrad3–1 (H)
Group G third placeFinal standingsGroup C runners-up
Europa League
OpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legKnockout phaseOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg
PSV Eindhoven3–23–0 (H)0–2 (A)Knockout round play-offs Red Bull Salzburg2–10–1 (A)2–0 (H)
Fenerbahçe2–12–0 (H)0–1 (A)Round of 16 Real Sociedad2–02–0 (H)0–0 (A)
Manchester United5–22–2 (A)3–0 (H)Quarter-finals Feyenoord4–20–1 (A)4–1 (H)
Juventus3–21–1 (A)2–1 (H)Semi-finals Bayer Leverkusen1–01–0 (H)0–0 (A)

Pre-match

Identity

The original identity of the 2023 UEFA Europa League Final was unveiled at the group stage draw on 26 August 2022.[14]

Ambassador

The ambassador for the final was former Hungarian international Zoltán Gera, who finished as runner-up in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League with Fulham.

Ticketing

With a stadium capacity of 63,000 for the final, a total amount of 46,800 tickets were available to fans and the general public, with the two finalist teams receiving 15,000 tickets each, and with the other tickets being available for sale to fans worldwide via UEFA.com from 21 to 28 April 2023 in four price categories: €150, €100, €65, and €40. Accessibility tickets for disabled spectators cost €40. The remaining tickets were allocated to the local organising committee, national associations, commercial partners, and broadcasters, and to serve the corporate hospitality programme.[15]

Match

Summary

In the 35th minute, Roma went in front when Paulo Dybala slotted the ball low into the right corner of the net after a pass from Gianluca Mancini, but Sevilla equalised ten minutes into the second half when Mancini turned the ball into his own goal after a cross from Jesús Navas on the right to make it 1–1. The game went to a penalties following almost 130 minutes of game time. After two missed Roma penalties in the shootout, one of which was saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and the other of which hit the post, Gonzalo Montiel, who also scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final against France, scored the winner for Sevilla. His penalty at first was missed but was re-taken owing to encroachment.[16]

Details

The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws.

width=25!width=25
GK 13 Yassine Bounou
RB 16 Jesús Navas (c)
CB 44 Loïc Badé
CB 6
LB 3
CM 20
CM 10
RW 55
AM 21
LW 25
CF 15 Youssef En-Nesyri
Substitutes:
GK 1 Marko Dmitrović
GK 31 Alberto Flores
DF 2
DF 4
DF 14 Tanguy Nianzou
DF 23
MF 8
MF 24 Alejandro Gómez
MF 43 Manu Bueno
FW 7
FW 12
FW 17
Manager:
José Luis Mendilibar
width=25!width=25
GK 1 Rui Patrício
CB 23
CB 6 Chris Smalling
CB 3 Roger Ibañez
RM 19
CM 4
CM 8
LM 37
AM 7 Lorenzo Pellegrini (c)
CF 21
CF 9
Substitutes:
GK 63 Pietro Boer
GK 99 Mile Svilar
DF 2
DF 14
MF 20 Mady Camara
MF 25
MF 52
MF 59
MF 62 Cristian Volpato
MF 68 Benjamin Tahirović
FW 11
FW 92
Other disciplinary actions:
Salvatore Foti[17]
Manager:
Man of the Match:
Yassine Bounou (Sevilla)

Assistant referees


Gary Beswick (England)
Adam Nunn (England)
Fourth official


Michael Oliver (England)
Reserve assistant referee


Stuart Burt (England)
Video assistant referee


Stuart Attwell (England)
Assistant video assistant referee


Chris Kavanagh (England)
Support video assistant referee


Bastian Dankert (Germany)

Match rules[18]
  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Twelve named substitutes
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time

Statistics

First half[19]
StatisticSevillaRoma
scope=rowGoals scored01
scope=rowTotal shots42
scope=rowShots on target12
scope=rowSaves11
scope=rowBall possession58%42%
scope=rowCorner kicks21
scope=rowFouls committed78
scope=rowOffsides00
scope=rowYellow cards12
scope=rowRed cards00
Second half
StatisticSevillaRoma
scope=rowGoals scored10
scope=rowTotal shots116
scope=rowShots on target11
scope=rowSaves11
scope=rowBall possession65%35%
scope=rowCorner kicks20
scope=rowFouls committed88
scope=rowOffsides10
scope=rowYellow cards13
scope=rowRed cards00
Extra time
StatisticSevillaRoma
scope=rowGoals scored00
scope=rowTotal shots33
scope=rowShots on target10
scope=rowSaves01
scope=rowBall possession65%35%
scope=rowCorner kicks23
scope=rowFouls committed63
scope=rowOffsides01
scope=rowYellow cards43
scope=rowRed cards00
Overall
StatisticSevillaRoma
scope=rowGoals scored11
scope=rowTotal shots1811
scope=rowShots on target33
scope=rowSaves23
scope=rowBall possession62%38%
scope=rowCorner kicks64
scope=rowFouls committed2119
scope=rowOffsides11
scope=rowYellow cards68
scope=rowRed cards00

Post-match

Critical response

Steve McManaman told BT Sport that the final had been "really ugly" and "unsavoury". He also stated his belief that the "behaviour and histrionics of both benches" had been "awful", saying that he felt for "the fourth official, Michael Oliver".[16]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yassine Bounou named official UEFA Europa League final Hankook Player of the Match . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 31 May 2023 . 31 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Referee teams appointed for 2023 UEFA club competition finals . UEFA . 22 May 2023 . 22 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Tactical Lineups – Final – Wednesday 31 May 2023 . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 31 May 2023 . 31 May 2023.
  4. International match calendar and access list for 2022/23 . UEFA Circular Letter . Union of European Football Associations . 51/2021 . 19 July 2021 . 5 November 2021.
  5. News: Budapest to host 2022 UEFA Europa League Final . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 2 March 2020 . 2 March 2020.
  6. News: UEFA competitions to resume in August . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 17 June 2020 . 17 June 2020.
  7. Web site: Pettit . Mark . Sevilla 1–1 Roma (aet, Sevilla win 4–1 on penalties): Bounou the spot-kick hero for serial winners . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 31 May 2023 . 8 June 2023.
  8. Web site: Montiel edges Sevilla to seventh Europa League triumph with win over Roma . 31 May 2023 . Guardian. 1 June 2023.
  9. Web site: Sevilla 1 Roma 1 (Sevilla win 4–1 on penalties) . 31 May 2023 . BBC Sport. 1 June 2023.
  10. Web site: Europa League final: Sevilla vs Roma – what to look out for . UEFA.com . UEFA . 22 May 2023 . 31 May 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230522173017/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0281-1812715f4e73-96ef98ba01f3-1000--europa-league-final-sevilla-vs-roma-what-to-look-out-for/. 22 May 2023.
  11. News: Sevilla vs Roma in the 2023 UEFA Europa League final: All you need to know . 31 May 2023 . UEFA.com. 31 May 2023.
  12. News: Budapest to stage 2022 UEFA Europa League final . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 2 March 2020 . 2 March 2020.
  13. News: UEFA Executive Committee agenda for Amsterdam meeting . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 27 February 2020 . 27 February 2020.
  14. News: 26 August 2022 . 2023 UEFA Europa League and 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League finals identities unveiled Inside UEFA . 26 August 2022 . UEFA.com.
  15. News: Ticket sales for 2023 UEFA club competition finals launched . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 21 April 2023.
  16. News: Sevilla 1–1 Roma (4–1 on penalties): Spanish side make history as Mourinho throws medal into crowd . 1 June 2023 . BBC Sport.
  17. News: De Felice . Alessandro . Moviola Siviglia–Roma: mano di Fernando in area, Taylor non concede il rigore . Sevilla–Roma video replay: handball from Fernando in the box, Taylor does not award the penalty . . 31 May 2023 . 1 June 2023 . it.
  18. Web site: Regulations of the UEFA Europa League, 2022/23 Season . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 1 May 2022 . 10 May 2022.
  19. Web site: Team statistics . Union of European Football Associations . 31 May 2023 . 1 June 2023.