The second in our three-part series of looking ahead to the three major UEFA European Club competitions focuses on the Europa League Final, which is the first of the trio of finals to take place on Wednesday 31^st May 2023.

Fans of Sevilla and AS Roma will be in attendance at the Puskas Arena in the beautiful city of Budapest, the capital of Hungary in what promises to be a very close and exciting game between two well-matched but very different teams.

As the second-most prestigious of the three tournaments, the Europa League has been enhanced by the changes made to it in recent times and especially the chance for the winner of this trophy to earn a seed spot in the Champions League Group Stage next season.

That is something that both teams, neither of whom can qualify for the Champions League via their league form this season, will very much have in mind in this game.

So let’s crack on with our preview of the big game.

Europa League Final

AS Roma v Sevilla

• Date – Wednesday 31^st May 2023
• Kick Off Time – 8pm
• Venue (capacity) – Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary (67,215)
• Referee – Anthony Taylor (Eng)
• Live Coverage – BT Sport
• Early Full Time Result Odds – AS Roma 15/8, Draw – 2/1, Sevilla 17/10

Sevilla will be hoping that they can make it a magnificent seven wins in this tournament, extending their record of wins in the competition, while AS Roma boss Jose Mourinho is chasing his second European trophy with AS Roma after their Europa Conference League success last year.

It has been an adventurous season for both in this competition, with Sevilla dropping into it after finishing third in their Champions League group before entering the Knockout Stage Playoffs of this competition.

Bet365 Sport have AS Roma as the slight favourites to win the trophy although all three options are pretty close in the betting, which indicates that the bookies feel this one could be a close one too.

I agree, so let’s find out why, first by taking a look how both teams made it to the Final itself.

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The Road To Budapest – AS Roma

AS Roma qualified for the Europa League and were drawn into Group C in the Group phase.

• Group Stage Match 1 – v Ludogorets (A) – L 1-2 (Shomurodov 86)
• Group Stage Match 2 – v HJK Helsinki (H) – W 3-0 (Dybala 47, Pellegrini 49, Beloitti 68)
• Group Stage Match 3 – v Real Betis (H) – L 1-2 (Dybala 34p)
• Group Stage Match 4 – v Real Betis (A) – D 1-1 (Belotti 53)
• Group Stage Match 5 – v HJK Helsinki (A) – W 2-1 (Abraham 41, Hoskonen 62 og)
• Group Stage Match 6 – v Ludogorets (H) – W 3-1 (Pellegrini 56p,65p, Zainolo 85)

Group C Table

1. Real Betis – 16pts (+8)
2. AS Roma – 10pts (+4)
3. Ludogorets Razgrad – 6 pts (-1)
4. HJK Helsinki – 2pts (-11)

As a second-place finisher in Group C, AS Roma qualified for the Knockout Phase Playoffs, rather than directly into the Round of 16.

• Knockout Playoffs 1^st Leg – V RB Salzburg (A) – L 0-1
• Knockout Playoffs 2^nd Leg – V RB Salzburg (H) – W 2-0 (Belotti 33, Dybala 40)
• Round of 16 1^st Leg – v R.Sociedad (H) – W 2-0 (El Shaarawy 13, Kumbulla 87)
• Round of 16 2^nd Leg – v R.Sociedad (A) – D 0-0
• Quarter Finals 1^st Leg – v Feyenoord (A) – L 0-1
• Quarter Finals 2^nd Leg – v Feyenoord (H) – W 4-1 AET (Spinazzola 60, Dybala 89, Al Shaarawy 101, Pellegrini 109)
• Semi Finals 1^st Leg – v Bayer Leverkusen (H) – W 1-0 (Bove 63)
• Semi Finals 2^nd Leg – v Bayer Leverkusen (A) – D 0-0

European Record 2023 – Played – 14, Won – 7, Drew – 3, Lost – 4, For – 20, Against – 10

The Road To Budapest – Sevilla

Sevilla qualified for the Champions League initially, drawn into Group G of the Group Stage.

• Group Stage Match 1 – v Man City (H) – L 0-4
• Group Stage Match 2 – v FC Copenhagen (A) – D 0-0
• Group Stage Match 3 – v Borussia Dortmund (H) – L 1-4 (En-Nesyri 51)
• Group Stage Match 4 – v Borussia Dortmund (A) – D 1-1 (Nianzou 18)
• Group Stage Match 5 – v FC Copenhagen (H) – W 3-0 (En-Nesyri 61, Isco 88, Montiel 90+2)
• Group Stage Match 6 – v Man City (A) – L 1-3 (Rafa Mir 31)

Group G Table

1. Manchester City – 14pts (+12)
2. Borussia Dortmund – 9pts (+5)
3. Sevilla – 5 pts (-6)
4. FC Copenhagen – 2pts (-11)

As a third-place finisher in Group G, Sevilla dropped into the Europa League Knockout Phase Playoffs.

• Knockout Playoffs 1^st Leg – v PSV (H) – W 3-0 (En-Nesyri 45+2, Ocampos 50, Gudelj 55)
• Knockout Playoffs 2^nd Leg – v PSV (A) – L 0-2
• Round of 16 1^st Leg – v Fenerbahce (H) – W 2-0 (Jordan 56, Lamela 85)
• Round of 16 2^nd Leg – v Fenerbahce (A) – L 0-1
• Quarter Finals 1^st Leg – v Man Utd (A) – D 2-2 (Malacia 84 og, Maguire 90+2 og)
• Quarter Finals 2^nd Leg – v Man Utd (H) – W 3-0 (En-Neysri 8,81, Bade 47)
• Semi Finals 1^st Leg – v Juventus (A) – D 1-1 (En-Neysri 28)
• Semi Finals 2^nd Leg – v Juventus (H) – W 2-1 AET (Suso 71, Lamela 95)

European Record 2023 – Played – 14, Won – 5, Drew – 4, Lost – 5, For – 19, Against – 16

Squad Comparison

Starting XI Predictions

Probable AS Roma XI – (5-3-2) – GK – Patricio, DMR – Celik, DML – Spinazzola, DC – Ibanez, DC – Cristante, DC – Smalling, MC – Matic, MC – Pellegrini, MC – Bove, AC – Belotti, AC – Dybala

Probable Sevilla XI – (4-2-3-1) – GK – Bono, DR – Navas, DL – Tellez, DC – Bade, DC – Gudelj, DMC – Fernando, DMC – Rakitic, AML – Lamela, AMR – Gil, AMC – Oliver, AC – En-Neysri

What Bets Are We Backing For The Europa League Final?

I expect this to be a very close game and I would not be surprised at all if we are pushed into extra time to decide the winner, or perhaps even penalties.

Sevilla, I feel, have the advantage and the belief in this tournament, but AS Roma won a European trophy last season, so that experience will stand them in good stead here.

Neither side have been impeccable in Europe this year, but I think this will be a cagey and tight affair and that ultimately extra time will be needed to separate the two, perhaps even penalties.

As such, I’d back the draw at 2/1 for the full time score, with a correct score bet of 1-1 between the two teams being a 5/1 shot at bet365 Sport, which is appealing.

And as for who wins, I think Sevilla will do just enough to claim their seventh Europa League title.

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