Tobias Sylvester
Sevilla have been crowned Europa League champions for a sixth time after beating Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan 3-2 during the league’s final in Cologne.
No matter the context, no matter the opponent and no matter the drama of the occasion, Sevilla always find a way to win Europe’s secondary competition.
The Europa finals on Friday night, August 21, 2020, was very tight and tactical, but Sevilla won in such thrilling circumstances, against a team of Inter Milan ’s obvious quality, providing them with a record sixth triumph in just 14 years.
Just five minutes into the gave, Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku won and scored a penalty having been brought down by Diego Carlos.
Luuk de Jong equalises for Sevilla eight minutes later with stooping header, following a cross from Jesus Navas.
The Dutch striker then found another brilliant header to put Sevilla ahead, only for Diego Godin to reply with a powerful header of his own three minutes later.
After the break, it was a much slower affair during the second half of the game. But an attempted overhead kick from Diego Carlos was put into his own net by Lukaku with 15 minutes left to play – to hand Sevilla the trophy.
Conte sent on Alexis Sanchez, Christian Eriksen and Victor Moses in search of an equaliser, and it was the former who was denied by a goal-line clearance from Jules Kounde with 10 minutes left.
But as they had done so many times in this competition, Sevilla battled on and held out for a sixth Europa League triumph in a thrilling final, with Conte left to rue a lost opportunity at European glory.
Sevilla had the weight of modern history on their side, having never lost a one-off knockout match in the history of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan’s trophyless run will stretch to 10 years. Conte has improved them significantly this season, finishing just a single point behind Juventus in Serie A.
They've done it again!
🏆🏆🏆 THIS IS SEVILLA'S COMPETITION 🏆🏆🏆 #Club2020 pic.twitter.com/VsDWCL4tgA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 21, 2020
Jesus Navas and Julen Lopetegui can't contain their emotions..
Great scenes! 🙌#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/AebTh0QKyX
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 21, 2020
A nice touch…
Conte and his Inter team were given a guard of honour from their Sevilla counterparts following tonight's game 👏#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/k4muTUQg76
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 21, 2020
Your 2020 UEFA Europa League champions! 🎉🎉🎉
Bravo, Sevilla 👏👏👏@SevillaFC | #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/XGMc3TMM8c
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) August 21, 2020
Sevilla has proceeded to 6 Europa League Finals and won all! Savage!🔥💥😲 pic.twitter.com/i4RN512kqF
— Brooks🖤🇬🇭™ (@TheManBrooks) August 21, 2020
Sevilla really are the kings of the UEFA Europa League 👑#UEL pic.twitter.com/XLSjJIaC4e
— GOAL (@goal) August 21, 2020
KanyiDaily had reported how Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea to thrash Arsenal 4-1 to win the Europa League title last year 2019.
