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Following months of hard work, hope and preparation, the final of the Europa League is finally upon us. As fans of the beautiful game another chance to see some of the best players in Europe before the season draws to a close, a massive turnout is expected in Warsaw as two quality teams go head-to-head.
Without a shadow of doubt, the allure of the continent’s oft-maligned tournament has grown in recent years, despite an obvious effort from some top clubs to avoid it, and it’s been easy to see why many of its die-hard defenders have done their best to celebrate its unique appeal.
Often showcasing some of the finest young players around, it has also played host to some of the best performers in history – an element which should eventually validate the true value of sides like Sevilla and Dnipro, given time.
Indeed, it’s arguable that this installment of the competition has been the most exciting to date. With so much more to play for and so much hopeful optimism in the air, there is a real opportunity for spectators and players alike to witness history inside Stadion Narodowy as Unai Emery’s charges do battle with Myron Markevych’s unlikely lads.
So, here we break down exactly where this prestigious clash could be won or lost -
Sevilla's desire to create history will provide huge motivation
Aiming to become the first side to ever win the competition four times, the Spanish La Liga outfit will almost certainly have one eye on creating a little chunk of history for themselves.
Having previously won the competition in 2006, 2007 and most recently last year, the reigning champions are set to become the most successful club to ever grace its stage as they look to move away from Juventus, Inter Milan and Liverpool who are all on three titles each.
Right now, they will hope the script reads something akin to the one they have written in their dreams, but it is still going to take a big effort from the players to see it accomplished. Still, though, as they are expecting to harness it as a positive force, it could very well be the extra advantage they need to tilt things in their favour.
Of course, detractors will say that it could place unnecessary strain and pressure on their endeavours, but we have already seen this team sweep pretty much all comers aside with ease, and there has been little sign of expectations getting in their way. In fact, Emery’s men have lost just one European match since they began their whirlwind journey back in mid-September of 2014.
Contrast of possession vs defence will decide spectacle
Should Sevilla hope to arrest Dnipro’s high-energy team game, they would do right to monopolise possession – something they have done quite a good job of so far.
Maintaining a firm grip on the ball for much of the evening will obviously ensure the Ukrainian outfit don’t get the opportunity to hurt them so much, particularly as they like to hit teams on the counter-attack.
That said, Dnipro’s method thus far has been a rather successful one, and although their illegitimate equaliser in their first-leg draw against Napoli played a massive role in their progression, they have scraped by just fine with their current team-based philosophy. And, in truth, they only need to survive for just one more night, even if they do so without éclat.
Indeed, looking at the possession statistics from that 1-1 draw against Il Partenopoei, Markevych’s side enjoyed just 30 percent of the ball, yet managed to survive. However, the Sevillistas should see their strategy come up trumps because they are likely to go for the win from the very off, dictating the tempo and pace of proceedings, something which should unsettle, and eventually tire out, their opponents – particularly when the possibility of extra-time is considered.
Of course, it’s possible that Dnipro will simply park the bus which could create quite a frustrating occasion for the current champions, but it’s certainly going to make for a riveting chess-like contest between two dedicated teams true to their identities.
Konoplyanka’s performance could prove key
Make no mistake, the display of Yevhen Konoplyanka in the second-biggest showpiece final in European club football will have a huge impact on exactly where the intricately-designed silver cup winds up. If the talented 25-year-old manages to involve himself in the game to greater effect than Sevilla would like, the Warriors of Light, as they’ve been called by their fans, might just cause an upset, against the run of play.
Indeed, Juande Ramos, who formerly managed both Sevilla and Dnipro, believes that Konoplyanka is the man to instigate the team into affirmative action more than most.
“Konoplyanka is the player who really stands out at Dnipro. He is very talented. He is an exciting player with a lot of quality. He is at a very high level and he is good enough to make the jump to one of Europe’s top clubs.”
A truly confident assertion indeed.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the left midfielder is good enough to breach a Sevilla defence that has kept four clean sheets in its last nine Europa League clashes, two of which arrived in their most high-stakes encounter of the season against Fiorentina.
Making the utmost out of any half-chances that come his way will be a pivotal factor in how everything pans out. Equally as important, though, will be his proficiency at creating more assists like the one he conjured for former Europa League winner Yevhen Seleznyov in their win against Napoli at home.
Blanquirrojas have superior firepower – can they put it to good effect?
Simply put, the champions have the better artillery. Heading into war for a season-defining match, it’s difficult to ignore this glaring strength which they have at their disposal.
True, it’s Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Red Bull Salzburg’s Alan who lead the scoring charts with eight goals each, but the Spanish side have converted a remarkable tally of 26 goals in Europe already this season – that’s an average of 1.85 goals per game, a figure which looks even more impressive when contrasted with the uninspiring offensive record of Dnipro who have bagged a paltry 13.
As already highlighted, Konoplyanka is expected to be one of their main attacking outlets and yet domestically he has only scored seven times, while on the European front he has none and just three assists to his name. In fact, their top scorer on this front is Niko Kalinic who has a mere three goals to his name.
And while their opponents don’t exactly possess a striker who’s running away with the golden boot, that’s because they’ve spread the wealth a little more evenly across the board – Carlos Bacca has managed five, while Kevin Gameiro has recorded four.
So, expect a lot more exciting play to come from Sevilla as Denis Bokyo looks to be in for a busy evening between the posts.
La Liga outfit have the necessary experience
Having been here before, this is a real opportunity for Sevilla to prove their worth, and their mettle, once more. The body of this squad toiled and hustled all last season to earn a night of glory and relief, but it was also a bittersweet achievement because they were not afforded the added luxury of gaining automatic entry into the Champions League.
Hungrier than ever to make sure they don’t miss out on it once more, they have worked themselves into a frenzy to get to this position. Exuding confidence through their cool, passing approach that has seen them tear many a top-quality defence apart with ease, they have wasted very little energy getting back to where they belong.
Because while winning this competition once more will be a fantastic achievement in itself, the crowning glory (along with an added injection of cash) would be to return to the most elite club competition in modern-day football.
In Jose Antonio Reyes, Coke Andujar, Gameiro, Bacca, Stephane Mbia – all of whom were present as their side overcame Benfica in last season’s final – and Ever Banega, they have the necessary know-how and guile to make sure they get the job done against a stubborn, physical and resourceful opponent.
