On Friday, August 21, 2020, the Europa League season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic finally came to an end. The final between the Sevilla and Inter Milan that was played at Cologne turned out to be a five-goal thriller, with Sevilla coming out on top 3-2.
Make that Six!
With this victory, Seviila have now won the Uefa Cup/UEFA Europa League title a record six time – 2005/06, 2006/7, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2019/20. No other club has won the competition more than three times. Losing finalists Inter, Liverpool, Juventus and Atletico Madrid have all won it on three occasions.
Sevilla have won all six UEFA Cup/Europa League finals they have played – the best 100% winning record for any club in UEFA competition finals history.
Jesus Navas was 20 years old when Sevilla (and himself) won their first UEFA Cup title. He captained his hometown club to the title 14 years later – his third and he team’s sixth.
De Jong does it
Luuk de Jong scored twice for Sevilla in the 3-2 win over Inter in the final. He is the first player ever to score with two headers in a Europa League or Champions League final.
Lopetegui has a reason to laugh
It hasn’t been easy for Sevilla’s manager Julen Lopetegui in the last two years or so. When it was announced that he would be Real Madrid’s manager after the conclusion of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he was dismissed from managing Spain’s national side the very next day, with the team already in Russia for the tournament.
And then, he was fired after just 14 matches in charge of Real Madrid. He now finally has a reason to smile as the Europa League success marks his first title win as a manager.
Picture Credit : Google