Sevilla won their seventh Europa League title on Wednesday night, beating Roma 4-1 on penalties as the match ended 1-1 after extra time. The Spanish team has never lost a Europa League final.
In Paris, Novak Djokovic stoked controversy earlier in the tournament after his comments about Kosovo, but cruised through his match against Marton Fucsovics to make it to the third round.
Meanwhile, Barcelona hope to start a new dynasty as they take on Wolfsburg in the women’s Champions League final.
Sevilla win Europa League
Sevilla found their Europa League magic formula on Wednesday, beating Roma 4-1 on penalties in Budapest to make it a perfect seven out of seven in finals in the competition.
The game finished 1-1 following extra-time after Paulo Dybala’s opener was earlier cancelled out by an own goal from Roma defender Gianluca Mancini.
A bad-tempered but gripping match went to a shootout at a raucous Puskas Arena, with Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou proving the hero with two saves.
Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty in the 2022 World Cup final, netted the decisive spot-kick after Mancini and Roger Ibanez had failed to convert for Roma.
The win is a remarkable achievement for 62-year-old Jose Luis Mendilibar, who only took over at Sevilla in March and is now celebrating his first major trophy.
“We are going to enjoy this because it has cost a lot and right now I don’t know if I will renew or not and I don’t care,” said the Spaniard, who is not certain to be at the club next season.
The veteran coach was brought in to save the club from relegation and has led them to safety as well as European glory.
“When I arrived I told the players that they were very good but that they were not mentally in the right place and that was my job,” he said.
“They have shown me in the end that they are very good.”
Defeat spells heartbreak for Roma boss Jose Mourinho, who has lost a European final for the first time after five successes.
“We felt pressure against a team that has more talent than us,” said the Portuguese. “We lost a game but not dignity. I’ve never gone home prouder than today, even when I won.”