The winner goes into the Champions League
Which would make it a whole lot messier in England
Most Premier League teams are now on their holidays. Stoke players are heading to France ahead of Euro 2016, West Brom are going to Twickenham for one last training session and Aston Villa have been on holidays for about four months now.
But with the Europa League final on Thursday, Liverpool cannot afford to be as they look to sneak into the Champions League by coming out victorious. Facing them are the back to back Europa League champions. Sheesh.
Sevilla are just keeping up with the standard of Spanish teams in Europe. Since 2003, Spanish clubs have won half of the 26 European finals, seven in the Europa League and six in the Champions League.
But they come into the final on rotten form, losing seven of their last nine games which means that they, like Liverpool, need to get the victory or they will not have European football next season. They conceded 19 goals in that space. But they’ve only failed to score in eight out of 38.
The Spanish have been unbeatable in European competition over the last two seasons. Well, almost unbeatable…
Liverpool made a bit of history by beating Villarreal. They became the first non-Spanish team to eliminate a Spanish club from Europe in almost two years. Their league form is solid and steady, having lost just three times since January.
Jurgen Klopp is looking to win his first ever European trophy in his second final appearance, and use the bargain of Champions League football in the transfer market. Although that didn’t really go well for the last guy or his marquee signing: Fabio Borini.
With it being an important final, we got the PP Blog stats guru to dig a few out for us
- Spain will become the most succesful nation in European football history if Sevilla topple Liverpool (they currently sit second behind Italy)
- Sevilla are unbeaten in UEFA Cup/Europa League finals, winning all four they’ve been in. No side has even done three consecutive UEFA Cup/Europa League wins
- This is Liverpool’s 12th appearance in a European final
- They’ve only lost once in the competition all season
- On six occasions has a club ”saved their season” by winning the competition to qualify for Europe
- There’ve been two finals with a 0-0 scoreline out of 44
This one isn’t going to be 0-0. Sevilla’s defence has been so leaky this season I think that both teams to score is nailed at. Over 3.5 goals is a decent. In terms of opening the scoring, Kevin Gameiro’s ()been Sevilla’s main man while a rested Danny Sturridge () is Liverpool’s best hope
This is what Sevilla do. They win the Europa League, it’s all they’ve got left this season like it has been the last two years. Can they raise it for one big effort and then head off for their European holidays? They’re to win the match. A draw is while Klopp’s Pool are to come out victorious.
But our tip is Sevilla to win and both teams to score at a massive . Sorry Liverpool, but next year is your year!