Sevilla Wins Europa League Final at Budapest’s Puskás Arena

Spanish team Sevilla beat Italian AS Roma in penalties after a 1-1 draw in Wednesday’s Europa League final at Puskás Arena.

The Italians took the lead in the 35th minute through Paulo Dybala’s goal before the Spaniards equalized through Gianluca Mancini’s goal in the 55th minute. Although both teams had chances in stoppage time, they were missed and extra time brought a much more cautious game, with penalties deciding the final in Budapest. Sevilla eventually won the battle of nerves 4-1.

The Spanish team played their seventh final in Europe’s second-tier cup competition and won all of them, while Roma manager José Mourinho was beaten for the first time in his sixth European Cup final.

AS Roma head coach José Mourinho has sharply criticized the referee, Anthony Taylor, after the final, accusing him of “seeming Spanish.” Mourinho confronted Taylor in a car park and told him he was a “f—ing disgrace,” adding that the referee made “bullshit decisions.” According to reports, the head coach was unhappy about the number of cards Taylor issued in the game – 14, a record for a European final.

: “ ***** ‼️”

L’allenatore della Roma urla tutta la sua rabbia in faccia all’arbitro Taylor Mentre Rosetti, designatore UEFA, cerca di calmarlo

@GianluVisco #ASRoma #Mourinho #EuropaLeagueFinal #Sportitalia pic.twitter.com/3TxOZAEol0

— Sportitalia (@tvdellosport) May 31, 2023

Puskás Arena, a jewel in Budapest, has previously hosted European Championship matches and a Super Cup final. This year’s prestigious final saw a full house waiting for the players and a spectacular five-minute or so performance with fire and light show elements before the teams left the pitch.

Supporters from both clubs welcomed their favorites with a spectacular live performance. The Romans covered their sections in maroon and yellow with the words ‘figli della lupa’ (children of the wolf) emblazoned across the sides.

Sevilla fans displayed a huge banner with a man holding the trophy, the six years of the trophy’s conquest in Roman numerals, and the Latin inscription ‘imperium nostrum’ above it, indicating that they were the top of the series and that the Europa League was their territory.

The European Football Association (UEFA) presented a commemorative plaque to the Hungarian Media Services and Support Trust Fund (MTVA) in recognition of its efforts to broadcast the Europa League final. Public media broadcast the match live on three platforms: the M4 Sport TV channel, Radio Kossuth and m4sport.hu. In the on-field studio at Puskás Aréna, a one-and-a-half-hour pre-show was on during which viewers were able to gain a deeper insight into the teams’ tactics and style of play through expert analysis.

“We are proud that our work has been recognized by the European Football Association and that the whole world can see the achievements of Hungarian public media staff,” said Dániel Papp, CEO of MTVA, after receiving the commemorative plaque.

Featured photo via MTI/Kovács Tamás