The Premier League were shown what they’re missing in a captivating Europa League final, as defending champions Sevilla retained their title, and won place in next season’s Champions League, with victory in a five-goal thriller against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
Often derided as a hindrance by English top flight sides, these two teams went about the Warsaw final as they would any other as fans were treated to an electrifying clash at Poland’s National Stadium.
Sevilla beat Porto to claim a record-equalling third UEFA Cup/Europa League trophy last season, and they appeared to have suffered a blow when Ukrainian side Dnipro took early lead after only seven minutes.
The Spaniard’s started well, with English referee Martin Atkinson waving away a penalty appeal when former Arsenal man Jose Antonio Reyes went down under a challenge, but within seconds Dnipro snatched a shock opener through ex-Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic’s header.
Reyes was in fine form and proved a constant pest for the Dnipro back-four, and the 31-year-old played a key role as Sevilla rallied back and scored two quick-fire goals to go in front.
Poland international Grzegorz Krychowiak sparked the comeback, netting in front of his home fans with a low drive following a corner, and Reyes was instrumental as his fine assist found top scorer Carlos Bacca, who rounded the goalkeeper and slotted in.
Goalkeeper Sergio Rico, recently called up by Spain, then pulled off a superb save to tip a lovely curling effort over the bar, but he was helpless to stop Dnipro from levelling on the stroke of half-time through a wonderfully struck free-kick from captain Ruslan Rotan.
After a thrilling end-to-end opening 45, Sevilla were the dominant force after the break and, after a series of near-missed, they finally stuck the winning goal on 73 minutes; Bacca notching his second of the game after shocking Dnipro defending.
Bacca had the chance to complete a glorious final hat-trick, but fluffed a late effort from close-range, but it matter little for Sevilla, who held onto their lead to make history – sealing their fourth title and becoming the first ever team to defend the trophy.
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