This season’s Europa League comes to a head with tonight’s final in Cologne, where Sevilla take on Inter Milan with the trophy on the line.
La Liga outfit Sevilla booked their spot in the showpiece match by coming from behind to defeat Manchester United 2-1 last week, before Inter thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 to secure their place in the final.
Sevilla have real pedigree in the competition as record five-time winners who lifted the trophy three years in a row between 2014 and 2016.
Inter, meanwhile, are in their first European final since 2010, when Jose Mourinho guided the Nerazzurri to a Champions League title.
Will Julen Lopetegui’s Spanish side prevail once again in the Europa League, or is the trophy Antonio Conte’s team’s to lose? Here’s all you need to know ahead of tonight’s final:
Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez were integral to Inter’s semi-final victory (AFP)
Sevilla are close to full strength, though Lucas Ocampos – who sent the Spanish club through against Wolves in the quarter-finals – is a doubt.
Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez’s thigh injury could keep him out for Inter, and midfielder Matias Vecino is a long-term absentee due to his knee surgery.
Predicted line-ups
Sevilla: Bounou, Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Reguilon, Banega, Fernando, Jordan, Suso, En-Nesyri, Munir
Inter: Handanovic, Godin, De Vrij, Bastoni, D’Ambrosio, Young, Brozovic, Barella, Gagliardini, Lukaku, Martinez
Prediction
Sevilla have been in this fixture numerous times before with great success, but their opponents have a coach in Conte who is very familiar with winning trophies. Sevilla impressed in beating United, but Inter showed tremendous defensive skills in limiting Shakhtar to zero first-half shots on target in their semi-final before proving their attacking prowess by scoring five times. Inter have a powerful line-up and they will certainly be expecting to get their hands on the trophy. Sevilla 1-2 Inter Milan. Continue reading