The 49th UEFA Europa League Final between two of the most successful teams in this competition will be played on Friday. The RheinEnergieStadion in Germany will host this final. Although, the Spanish club Sevilla has won this competition more than any club (Five times winners) and behind them is the joint-second most successful club Inter Milan (Three times winners) along with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, and their domestic rivals Juventus. However, this will be the first time these two teams will face each other in the European competition. Sevilla has won this competition recently for three years running from 2014 to 2016. Inter Milan’s latest triumph in this competition goes way back in the 1990s.
Munir El Haddadi vs de Vrij
Munir El Haddadi, the Spanish international and ex-Barcelona winger is the top scorer for Sevilla this season in the UEFA Europa League. He has scored five goals for Sevilla. Although in La Liga this season he has made only 14 starts, he has five goals and two assists on his name.
Stefan de Vrij has helped Inter Milan keep 14 clean-sheets in Serie A. Inter Milan initially played in the Champions League this season. But they were placed in a tough group consisting of F.C.Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund. They were transferred to UEFA Europa League as they finished third in the group. So, in the five matched they have played, Inter Milan have conceded only two goals and keeping three clean-sheets.
The pace Munir carries, surely makes him a tough customer to deal with. Stefan de Vrij will surely need to keep him in check throughout the game and maintain the offside trap. He likes to get behind the defenders. Stefan de Vrij is good in the air, he has won 85% of the aerial duels in the UEFA Europa League. It will be very difficult for Munir to score headers when de Vrij is marking him.
Ever Banega vs Christian Eriksen
The Argentine mid-fielder is one of the most experienced players in this Sevilla squad. Ever Banega is a mid-field maestro. He has 10 assists and three goals this season in all competitions. With his skills and passing, he can control the game for Sevilla.
Christian Eriksen made his move to Inter Milan in the winter transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in the winter transfer. He has struggled in the Premier League as well as in the Seria A this season with form. However, we all know how good a player he is. His vision and ability to break defense is phenomenal.
This battle in the mid-field will be the most important one. Both the players with high quality, in their passing, through balls, and vision for their respective teams will be surely exciting to watch. Ever Banega will be pumped to play against his former club. Who will come on top in this mid-field battle?
Jesus Navas vs Lautaro Martinez
Jesus Navas will lead his team in the final. The Spanish defender used to play as a right mid-fielder, which encourages him to go forward on the right wing. He has provided 102 assists for Sevilla throughout his career. He provided the crucial assist against Manchester United in the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League this season.
Lautaro Martinez has scored 21 goals this season in all competitions, including the two goals in the semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk. He is in a great form this season and has lured the attention of the Spanish giants Barcelona.
Jesus Navas likes to go high up the pitch to join the Sevilla attack. Lautaro Martinez’s lethal attack will be a threat for the Spanish defender. Will he risk going in the attack and expose the defense? Or will only play defensively throughout the game. This battle will be crucial.
Sergio Reguilon vs Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku in his first season at Inter Milan has scored 33 goals in all competitions. Just one behind the legend Ronaldo (34 goals) in the debut season. He is in tremendous form. Lukaku is also the joint second-highest top-scorer in the UEFA Europa League this season with six goals. Two goals behind Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
Sergio Reguilon has only made four appearances in UEFA Europa League this season. However, he has one goal and one assist being a defender. His assist came in a crucial game against Manchester United in the semi-final.
Just like Jesus Navas, Sergio Reguilon likes to go high up the pitch. Romelu Lukaku is in great form. Lukaku has great physicality and is good in the aerial duels. It will be tricky for young Sergio Reguilon to win one-on-one battles against Lukaku. However, he has to find a way to stop Lukaku in a crucial UEFA Europa League Final.
Luuk de Jong vs Diego Godin
Luuk de Jong scored the crucial goal in the semi-final against Manchester United. Coming off the bench, that crucial goal helped Sevilla through in the finals of the UEFA Europa League. Although he hasn’t started for Sevilla, he is a player with high potential who can score crucial goals for his team.
Diego Godin is one of the best and most experienced defenders in the world. He was a big part of Atletico Madrid’s success in recent years. Now. at Inter Milan he leads the defense. His experience, physicality, and tackling are surely one of the best in the world. It is not easy to go against him for any attacker.
Sevilla defeated Manchester United in the semi-final. The English club throughout the end failed to score the goal from open play. On the other hand, Inter Milan thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 and will be very confident going into the final. Who will win the UEFA Europa League this season? Will Sevilla clinch their sixth title or will Inter Milan come on top against the Spanish club.
