All hopes of Inter Milan winning a major title this season was dashed as Sevilla won the final on the Europa League to clinch their sixth European title. The champions were crowned by the goal gifted by Inter’s first goal scorer, Romero Lukaku, who scored a spectacular overhead kick by Diego Carlos.
The match played at the Stadion Koln in Cologne, Germany, behind closed doors due to the pandemic, ended 3 – 2 in favour of the Spanish club. It was the first one-off final since 1997/98 played at a neutral venue.
It started with a penalty converted inside the fifth minute by in-form Lukaku, Sevilla responded impressively with two well-taken headers from Luuk de Jong. Then Inter came back with a goal from Diego Godin. The match grew intense with a golden chance for Lukaku to win the match for Inter but instead, he deflected into his team’s net an overhead kick from Diego Carlos.
Dutchman who hasn’t scored in 11 matches before his winner against United in the semi-finals was the man of the match with a strong all-round display.
According to Inter coach, Antonio Conte: “I don’t have many regrets now: my players gave really everything they had against a team used to playing these kinds of games. I think their experiences in this sense made the difference in the end tonight.”
Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui, said “This squad are great. They believe in it, what they work on and what they transmit. Even if we hadn’t won I’d still love these guys, but today we take home the prize. We always believed. This team never gives up.”
Sevilla’s love for UEFA Cup/UEFA Euro League finals cannot be overemphasized; they have played in six finals and won all. What an outstanding perfect record. Their title is twice as many as those of Liverpool, Juventus, Inter and Atletico de Madrid who have all won thrice.
With this win, Sevilla will now contest the UEFA Super Cup against winner of Sunday’s UEFA Champions League final between Paris and Bayern in Budapest on 24th September.
Both Sevilla and Inter will line up in next UEFA Champions’ League group stage draw in Athens on 1 October.
