Sevilla FC - Inter Milan: a Europa League final between European leaders

By playing its sixth final of the Europa League, Friday August 21, in Cologne, Germany, against Inter Milan, Sevilla FC has the opportunity to make history a little more. While the Andalusians have chained the coronations for fifteen years in C3 (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2016), Inter has not gleaned anything on the European scene since its Champions League in 2010. 

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"They have won a lot for seven, eight years, they are sharp," warns the interior coach Antonio Conte, who will oppose the force of Spanish habit "the envy and enthusiasm" of his team, including two holders Ashley Young (with Manchester United) and Diego Godin (twice with Atlético Madrid) have already conquered C3. 

If Inter, with their offensive duo Romelu Lukaku-Lautaro Martinez on fire (54 goals between them) and a Barella in great shape, seems more suited for the Champions League, Conte does not intend to let the opportunity pass. conquer a first continental trophy after national titles with Juventus and Chelsea.

"People only remember you when you win the finals," said coach Antonio Conte at the press conference which consoled Italy a bit after the eliminations of Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta in C1. 

The objective is therefore clear: to replace the country, which has not won a European competition for ten years (Inter's victory in C1 against Bayern), on the roof of Europe. "This final must be a starting point" for Inter, wanted the goalkeeper and captain Nerazzurri, Samir Handanovic, Thursday, in a press conference. 

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Saving the honor of Spanish football

After the slap received by Barça against Bayern (2-8), Sevilla FC, for its part, has the mission to save the honor of Spanish football for the first confrontation in its history against Inter. 

With on his bench the revenge Julen Lopetegui, who dreams of returning to the front of the European stage after his failures in Porto, Real Madrid and in the Spanish selection, Sevilla FC has the means to achieve its ambitions. The effective duo he forms with his sporting director Monchi has propelled Sevilla FC to records: 20 games unbeaten since February 9 (and a 2-1 loss against Celta Vigo in La Liga), a fourth place in La Liga , synonymous with qualifying for the preliminary round of C1 next year and perhaps a sixth C3 (after 2006, 2007 and the incredible hat-trick of Unai Emery in 2014, 2015 and 2016) which is reaching out to him.

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"Between the Europa League and Sevilla, it's a love story [...] Nobody likes the Europa League as much as we do," Monchi assured. "From our first European match in September, we had in mind to win this cup. They say it's our cup", also said, in Marca, the young central defender Jules Koundé (21 years). 

The Sevillians have reason to believe it and even more if the serial scorer Lucas Ocampos (17 goals this season in all competitions), embarrassed by pain in the right knee in the semi-final, holds his place in the final in Cologne, as left think about the workouts for the week.

After a pandemic that has upset the football season like the rest, the first big loser will however be the public. Due to sanitary measures, the match will, like all others since mid-March, be played behind closed doors at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne.

With AFP

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