Europa League: Yacine Bounou, Sevilla's golden goalkeeper

Sevilla won their seventh Europa League on Wednesday 31 May thanks to their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, author of a dantesque match.

Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou wins the 2023 Europa League. REUTERS - BERNADETT SZABO

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

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Seven out of seven, a record: Sevilla FC won in Budapest the seventh Europa League in its history, on penalties (4-1) and at the end of the night against AS Roma of José Mourinho (1-1 a.p.).

In the middle of the Hungarian night, Sevilla players lifted their seventh European trophy, in front of more than 10,000 of their trance supporters. The Moroccan international, Yassine Bounou, elected man of the match, was one of the architects of this victory.

Be very calm

During the penalty shootout, Bounou will not stop the ball from the first shot. But the Montreal native will stop the penalties of Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibañez, while his teammates Erik Lamela, Ivan Rakitic and Gonzalo Montiel will transform theirs. In this final, the Atlas Lion was decisive twice in the second half after his team equalized on a goal against his side Mancini. He first repelled Abraham's recovery from close range, then he deflected the match ball against Belotti with his fingertips. He could not avoid the opening score of Dybala (35th)

Bounou, who has played every Europa League match this season, will remain the hero of the evening. Despite a mixed season, Sevilla saved themselves. The Sevillians will see the Champions League next year despite their eleventh place in La Liga.

«

I went through a lot of moments like that and I understood that you have to be very calm. My teammates passed it on to me as well. Congratulations to all the boys, to all of Seville," said the goalkeeper after the match. He added: "I am an employee of the club, ready to meet Sevilla's needs. He trusted me and I have to trust him. I remember the people who have always supported me. My wife, my son, my teammates, Sevilla... Everybody. It's very exhilarating."

Revealed in Qatar

The red and white club, very close to relegation to La Liga just two months ago, has continued its crazy statistics: it remains unbeaten in the final of the Europa League with seven titles since 2006, a record (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020). Yassine Bounou wins the second Europa League of his career after that of 2020.

In Qatar, during the last World Cup, Yassine Bounou revealed himself to the general public. Fantastic against Spain in the knockout stages, "Bono" had been one of the great craftsmen of the Moroccan epic. Pablo Sarabia's shot had ended up on the post, those of Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets in the goalkeeper's gloves. Thanks in part to him, the Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals against France after beating Portugal in the quarterfinals.

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• Football
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