Sevilla vs Roma LIVE: Latest updates and team news from Europa League final

Sevilla are targeting a record-extending seventh Europa League title when they take on Roma in the final of the 2022/23 competition in Budapest tonight.

The Spanish side have struggled domestically this year and have spent most of their La Liga campaign fending off relegation, but they have performed exceptionally in Europe. José Luis Mendilibar is their third manager of the season but has orchestrated wins over big name teams like Juventus and Manchester United on the way to this evening’s final.

Sevilla will take on a Roma side who are looking to seal back-to-back European titles following their victory in the Europa Conference League last season. Jose Mourinho’s side won the inaugural tournament of Europe’s third competition last year and are now one win away from Champions League qualification. Victory in tonight’s final would also see Mourinho become the first manager to win the Europa League with three different clubs, following previous triumphs with Porto and Manchester United.

Follow all the action as Sevilla and Roma clash in the Europa League showpiece:

Sevilla vs Roma

Sevilla face Roma in the 2023 Europa League final with kick off at 8pm

Sevilla have won the Europa League a record six times and could extend that to seven

Roma would lift the trophy for the first time if they win

Sevilla XI: Bono; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Telles; Fernandom Rakitic; Ocampos, Torres, Gil; En-Nesyri

Roma XI: Patricio; Ibanez, Mancini, Smalling; Spinazzola, Cristante, Matic, Zeki Celik; Pellegrini, Abraham, Dybala

Sevilla FC – AS Roma

Sevilla vs Roma

19:56 , Mike Jones

The Europa League trophy is brought out onto the edge of the pitch before the two teams walk past it as they take to the field. The stadium is packed, it’s noisy and it’s bouncing.

This should be a cracking final but which team will become champions? Kick off is up next…

Sevilla vs Roma

19:53 , Mike Jones

This is Sevilla’s seventh final in the Uefa Cup or Europa League and they have yet to lose one. Their winning run goes back as far as 2006 when they claimed their first victory over Middlesbrough in Eindhoven.

Here are all the finals the Spaniards have won:

2006: Sevilla 4-0 Middlesbrough (Eindhoven)

2007: Sevilla 2-2 Espanyol – Sevilla won on penalties (Glasgow)

2014: Sevilla 0-0 Benfica – Sevilla won on penalties (Turin)

2015: Sevilla 3-2 Dnipro (Warsaw)

2016: Sevilla 3-1 Liverpool (Basel)

2020: Sevilla 3-2 Inter Milan (Cologne)

Pellegrini on Roma’s tactical approach

19:48 , Mike Jones

Roma captain, Lorenzo Pellegrini, explained how his team are planning on approaching tonight’s final saying: “Knowing how to approach a match tactically does not mean attacking like crazy and allowing your opponent to score.

“For me, to approach the game in a right tactical way is to try to limit your opponent. We analysed all the teams and tried to figure out how to contain their strengths.

“We managed because we are in the final. To sacrifice and make an extra run for your team-mate is not leaving the bus in front of the goal but wanting to be here.“

Rakitic’s pre-match thoughts

19:43 , Mike Jones

Sevilla midfielder, Ivan Rakitic said: “The coach has been very clear from the start about what he wants. This won’t change tomorrow.

“We have to be ourselves. When we say nobody loves the competition like we do, it’s not because some bright spark in the club offices said it. It’s because we think that way.

“We have to play the perfect game and win the cup and bring it home.”

Will Tammy emulate Jose?

19:38 , Mike Jones

England striker Tammy Abraham is looking to become the first player to win the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League. And he’d be doing it in successive years.

He won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2020/21, even though he did not feature in the final against Manchester City, before lifting the Europa Conference League with Roma last year.

Only Jose Mourinho, as a coach, has won all three trophies. Will Abraham become the second person to get his hands on all three?

Pre-match thoughts from Nemaja Gudelj

19:33 , Mike Jones

Sevilla midfielder Nemanja Gudelj spoke before kick off saying: “If somebody had told us at the beginning of the season that this would be the case [Sevilla being in the final], we wouldn’t really have believed them.

“Mendilibar has to be thanked for that. We’ve improved our overall style of play, we’ve started getting better results and we’ve started playing the way that Sevilla used to play a few years ago.”

Sevilla vs Roma

19:28 , Mike Jones

This is Roma’s fifth European final – after the 1961 Fairs Cup, 1984 European Cup, 1991 Uefa Cup and 2022 Europa Conference League.

They were successful in the 1961 Fairs Cup and the 2022 Europa Conference League but lost both cup finals in 1984 and 1991.

Which way will this one go?

Sevilla vs Roma

19:23 , Mike Jones

Sevilla’s Jesus Navas, at 37 years and 191 days old, is the oldest outfielder to start the final since David Weir, who was 38, for Rangers against Zenit in 2008.

Navas won Sevilla’s first Uefa Cup in 2006 against Middlesbrough when he was 20 years and 170 days old.

Jose Mourinho’s European honours

19:18 , Mike Jones

Roma boss Jose Mourinho has been to five European finals and has won every single one of them. Here’s a list of when and who he’s beaten in European competition.

2003 Uefa Cup: Porto 3-2 Celtic (Seville)

2004 Champions League: Monaco 0-3 Porto (Gelsenkirchen)

2010 Champions League: Bayern Munich 0-2 Inter Milan (Madrid)

2017 Europa League: Ajax 0-2 Manchester United (Solna)

2022 Europa Conference League: Roma 1-0 Feyenoord (Tirana)

Sevilla vs Roma

19:13 , Mike Jones

Both teams inspect the pitch ahead of kick off at 8pm. Which side will become the 2022/23 Europa League champions?

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Sevilla vs Roma

19:08 , Mike Jones

There’s a lot more at stake in tonight’s final that just a trophy.

The winners at Budapest’s Puskas Arena will play in next season’s Champions League with tonight’s final being the only hope of doing so for both teams.

Neither team has finished in the top four of their respective leagues, while Sevilla – 11th in La Liga – could miss out on Europe entirely if they lose.

The year that sportswashing won: A season that changed football forever

19:03 , Mike Jones

For an illustration of the sort of double-think that has pervaded football this campaign, consider the actions of one prominent figure. They have effusively praised Manchester City in public, but constantly asked when the Premier League investigation is going to be concluded in private.

This could actually refer to a few people, and might well be necessary realpolitik. It’s also the reality of the game in the 2022-23 season, one that has gone on so long that two contrasting perspectives on the same subject could both be entirely fair at different times.

This was a campaign that was deeply predictable at one end and wondrously open below that. City may make history by winning a treble but also made history in becoming the first champions to have been charged with breaches that could yet see them expelled from the Premier League. Manchester United were often a shambles in some record defeats but also sensibly getting things together under the astute Erik ten Hag. On it goes, just like the season itself. There’s still almost a month left.

The year that sportswashing won: A season that changed football forever

Pre-match thoughts from Sevilla’s sporting director

18:58 , Mike Jones

Sevilla sporting director Monchi spoke to the Spanish media about how his team will fare in tonight’s final saying: “It’ll be difficult because they’re a team who make few mistakes and give little away. You have to beat them – rather than them losing – and try not to commit errors as they live off them.

“Mourinho’s a wily old fox in these contests and he tries to take the pressure off them to put it on us. I don’t know if Smalling, Dybala and Belotti are kids.

“So I don’t think this talk of favourites means much. We’ve got to a good moment after a very tough season. The coach has managed to convince the group of a concept and we’re defending that to the end.”

Sevilla vs Roma

18:53 , Mike Jones

Sevilla are the record six-time winners and have never lost a Europa League final while Jose Mourinho, who manages Roma, has won all five European finals he has ever been involved in.

One of these records will end tonight but who will be on the winning side?

Sevilla vs Roma team changes

18:48 , Mike Jones

José Luis Mendilibar is forced into one change to the Sevilla team that saw off Juventus in the Europa League semi-finals. Marcos Acuna was sent off in the second leg so Alex Telles comes in a left-back to replace him.

Jose Mourinho meanwhile makes two changes to the Roma side with Paulo Dybala and Chris Smalling slotting in as replacements for Andrea Belotti and Edoardo Bove.

Sevilla vs Roma line-ups

18:43 , Mike Jones

Sevilla XI: Bono; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Telles; Fernandom Rakitic; Ocampos, Torres, Gil; En-Nesyri

Roma XI: Patricio; Ibanez, Mancini, Smalling; Spinazzola, Cristante, Matic, Zeki Celik; Pellegrini, Abraham, Dybala

Sevilla vs Roma

18:40 , Mike Jones

There is just one previous meeting between these two clubs, when Sevilla won 2-0 in a Europa League round of 16 tie in Duisburg in August 2020.

The scorers that day were Sergio Reguilnn, who spent this season on loan at Atletico from Tottenham, and Youssef En-Nesyri who should start tonight.

Pre-match thoughts from Jose Mourinho

18:35 , Mike Jones

Roma’s coach José Mourinho said: “History does not play.

“My colleague [Mendilibar] believes that history makes Sevilla favourites, I respect that. We are in the final because we deserved to be, they have a history that we do not have.

“For them to play the final is a normal thing, for us it is an extraordinary event. I have had more opportunities to play in European competitions, but Mendilibar is of the same generation as me, with the same white hair.

“We are on an equal footing. It’s the same for the players: Sevilla have more experience, but we’ve been playing together for two years.”

Pre-match thoughts from Mendilibar

18:30 , Mike Jones

Sevilla’s head coach, José Luis Mendilibar, gave his thoughts about tonight’s final ahead of kick off saying: “Mistakes are what you pay for in games like this and it’s about making the fewest mistakes possible.

“We’ve eliminated big teams but the most difficult one is ahead of us. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes will win. Roma are a very strong team defensively. I don’t think they need many chances to score and to win.

“They are comfortable if they have to defend close to their area but also if they have to step forward and press. They don’t get nervous, they are calm. And we need to play with that same calm too.”

Sevilla vs Roma

18:25 , Mike Jones

The fans are having a great time as they arrive at the Puskas Arena. Kick off for this Europa League final is at 8pm and the team news should be dropping fairly soon.

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

(Getty Images)

Jose Mourinho flashing the old charm with chance to return to the big time

18:20 , Mike Jones

They usually come out of nowhere, but reduce everyone to sniggering laughter – even if some of it can be a bit guilty.

Jose Mourinho still stays in contact with other managers as well as former colleagues and there are often moments where he feels the need to comment on someone else in the game, and sends out a message featuring the most cutting descriptions. Some of it can be unprintable. All of it is really sent to amuse the recipient.

It shows the old mischief is there. It shows the old charm is there. It’s also working on people anew.

Jose Mourinho flashing the old charm with chance to return to the big time

Sevilla vs Roma latest odds and prediction

18:15 , Mike Jones

Latest odds:

For 90 minutes

Sevilla: 13/8

Draw: 9/5

Roma: 17/10

Prediction:

Sevilla’s Europa League heritage or Jose Mourinho’s European magic? Either way, this will be close, but with a Roma winner in extra time. Sevilla 1-2 Roma, after extra time

Sevilla vs Roma predicted line-ups

18:10 , Mike Jones

Sevilla: Bounou; Jesus Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Alex Telles; Fernando, Rakitic; Ocampos, Oliver Torres, Bryan Gil; En-Nesyri

Roma: Rui Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Zeki Celik, Cristante, Matic, Spinazzola; Dybala, Pellegrini; Abraham

What is the team news?

18:05 , Mike Jones

Marcos Acuna is suspended but Joan Jordan and Suso have overcome injuries to be avialable for the final. Tanguy Nianzou and Marcao are doubts.

Paulo Dybala is a doubt for the Europa League final and has not played since the first leg of the semi-finals three weeks ago. Leonardo Spinazzola is also doubtful – but both players have trained ahead of the final.

How to watch the Europa League final

18:00 , Mike Jones

Sevilla face Roma at 8pm BST on Wednesday 31st May at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

The Europa League final will be shown live on BT Sport 1, with coverage starting from 7:15pm.

BT Sport have also made the Europa League final free for everyone in the UK. The match will be available for free at www.btsport.com/final, on the BT Sport YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/btsport, or via the BT Sport App.

Sevilla vs Roma

16:39 , Mike Jones

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Europa League final as Sevilla and Roma go head-to-head to win Europe’s second competition.

The edge has to be given to Sevilla who are the kings of the Europa League. They’ve won the competition a record six times and have already defeated the likes of Manchester United and Juventus on their way to the final. With Champions League qualification not a option for them in terms of league position this season, their only chance of making it into Europe’s top tier is to win this evening.

They’re up against Roma who themselves are targeting a spot in the Champions League as well as more silverware under boss Jose Mourinho. Mourinho’s side were victorious in the inaugural Europa Conference League last year and are now in another European final. Roma have never won the Europa League so will lift the trophy for the very first time if they defeat Sevilla tonight.

We’ll bring all the team news, build-up and updates from Budapest before kick off at 8pm.