Seven out of seven, a record: Sevilla FC won Wednesday, May 31 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.).

At the end of the end, the Sevillians managed to overcome the Roman wall and Jose Mourinho's famous low block. Not totally, because it was not until the penalty shootout to send the Sevillians to seventh heaven, in the heart of the Hungarian night.

Sevilla's Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, voted man of the match, pushed away Gianluca Mancini's second Roman attempt with his foot, then put pressure on and deflected Roger Ibanez's fingertips, who hit the post.

The red and white club, very close to relegation to La Liga just two months ago, continues its crazy statistics: it remains unbeaten in the final of the Europa League with seven titles since 2006, a record. In the middle of the table in La Liga (11th), he is again on the roof of little Europe and in the world of European football.

Like this final, the Spaniards have never given up throughout the European campaign, as against Juve in the semis. They ended up eliminating the Italians at the end of extra time in the second leg.

Third in its Champions League group, Sevilla FC successively beat PSV Eindhoven (3-0, 0-2), Fenerbahçe (2-0, 0-1), Manchester United (2-2, 3-0) and Juventus (1-1, 2-1) to reach this final. Despite the opening score of AS Roma (35th) by the Argentine striker Paulo Dybala, announced injured, the Sevillians continued their siege in front of the Roman surface.

First European final lost for Mourinho

Throughout the first half, the red and white, pushed by part of the stadium, struggled to enter the last 30 meters Italian, blocked by the very compact defense. At the very end of the first half, Croatian Ivan Rakitic thought he equalized by unleashing a powerful strike, but which hit the right post.

In the second half, the Sevillians continued to dominate the Romans, who eventually faltered (55th). On the right, Jesus Navas, 37 and the oldest player in the final since 2008, centered to former Marseille Lucas Ocampos who missed his recovery in front of goal. But the ball fell back on the knee of Romain Mancini, who caught his goalkeeper on the wrong foot.

Always dominant in the game and duels, the Spaniards faced resistance from the Italians who avoided a penalty (77th) cancelled by VAR for a supposed contact on Ocampos.

On a free kick (83rd), the Romans were close to going ahead: Lorenzo Pellegrini found Andrea Belotti on the left of the box, but the striker was countered by the Moroccan goalkeeper, author of a superb parry. In an unbridled end to the game, the two teams did not really break away, heading to overtime, where little happened.

Jose Mourinho had never lost a European final in his career. Sevilla have never lost a Europa League final in their history: no matter the outcome, the result was going to be historic.

"History does not lie and in the last 20 years this club has been the best in this competition," Sevilla FC's Spanish coach Jose Luis Mendilibar, who arrived two months ago when the Blanquirrojos were close to relegation, warned on Tuesday.

Once this C3 final is over, it will be time to talk about the future of Jose Mourinho in Rome: announced in several clubs including insistently at Paris Saint-Germain, Jose Mourinho assured Tuesday before the match that he had "no contact with other clubs" and that he was focused on the final. With this lost final, he seems even closer to the start.

With AFP

The summary of the week France 24 invites you to look back on the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news with you everywhere! Download the France 24 app