What: UEFA Europa League Final
Who: Sevilla vs Benfica
When: Wednesday 12th May 2014, at 19:45 UK Time
Where: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
Sevilla Spring Surprises
Sevilla and Benfica are set to square off in this season’s Europa League final. It should be a fascinating night in Turin between two clubs who have fought against adversity over the last year in order to advance to a European final.
For Unai Emery’s side, not much was expected this season as rebuilding was supposed to be the focus. And how else could it be seen for a club that lost quality players such as Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo, and Gary Medel. Emery has engineered an impressive campaign however, leading his side into this final and on the verge of a top six finish in La Liga.
Kevin Gameiro’s goals have been a crucial part of Sevilla’s ability to win matches, however there is a fear over the French striker’s chances of making the squad for the final due to a recent knee injury. If he fails to recover, Sevilla supporters can find solace in the fact that Colombian striker Carlos Bacca has been consistently scoring this season and has seven goals in Sevilla’s run in the Europa League. Ivan Rakitic has flourished this campaign, while Stephane M’bia has been a shrewd acquisition who has offered a lot down the stretch.
Supporters of Los Rojiblancos will be dreaming of a win in Turin. With Rakitic set to leave for a bigger European club, there could be another season of having to rebuild should other players follow suit. Emery won’t be concerned about that just yet. Now the focus is surely on winning the club’s third UEFA Cup/Europa League.
Season of Redemption
If Sevilla have had to find a way to replace quality personnel, Benfica have had to try and find the strength to carry on after a season of great disappointment. Last year was arguably the most disappointing in the club’s history as the race for a treble ended up yielding no trophies. Benfica were pipped to the league by FC Porto at the death and Jorge Jesus’ side then went on to lose the Portuguese Cup final and the Europa League final to Chelsea.
What a difference a year makes. Now, instead of three titles, the Lisbon side are chasing four having already claimed the Portuguese league and the League Cup. With two finals left to play in the Portuguese Cup and the Europa League, there is belief that the club could win an unprecedented quadruple. That would be a historic achievement for this team, but in order to do so they will also have to go up against history.
Since Bela Guttman, the former manager who oversaw Benfica’s golden era in the 1960s, was unceremoniously dismissed in 1962, the club have contested and lost all seven European finals they have participated in. Many deem this a curse as Guttman famously stated that Benfica would not win a European title for 100 years. Curse or not, the Portuguese champions-elect will get another crack at continental glory as they strive to complete the club’s best-ever season.
Recent form
Sevilla:
Valencia 3-1 Sevilla (01/05; Europa League)
Sevilla 0-0 Villarreal (04/05; La Liga)
Getafe 1-0 Sevilla (11/05; La Liga)
Benfica:
Juventus 0-0 Benfica (01/05; Europa League)
Benfica 1-1 Vitoria Setubal (04/05; Portuguese Primeira Liga)
Porto 2-1 Benfica (10/05; Portuguese Primeira Liga)
Key absences
Sevilla: Jairo Samperio (suspended); Kevin Gameiro (doubt)
Benfica: Lazar Markovic (suspended); Enzo Perez (suspended); Eduardo Salvio
Players to watch
Sevilla – Ivan Rakitic: The Croatian playmaker could be set to feature for the Andalusians for the last time in European competition. Liverpool are great admirers of the 26-year-old and Real Madrid are also rumored to be in the running for his signature come this summer. With three goals and three assists in the competition to date and twelve goals in La Liga, Rakitic’s influence is seen not only in the statistics but also on the pitch where his four seasons with the club have been a massive success.
Benfica – Lima: Something of a journeyman striker when plying his trade in his native Brazil, Lima has found a home in Portugal. After impressing for the likes of Belenenses and Braga over the course of three seasons after moving to Portugal in 2009, the 30-year-old was snapped up by Benfica. He has been a revelation for the Eagles having scored 51 goals in two seasons with the club as he has averaged better than a goal every two matches. Having scored the two goals to help his club clinch their 33rd league title and scoring the vital winner against Juventus in the first leg semi-final, he is undoubtedly a player in top form.
Match Prediction
This has all the ingredients for a fantastic final. These are two clubs with rich histories, but also with a tradition of playing attacking football. Benfica will start as favourites, but there are concerns with regard to injuries and perhaps burnout. This is the second long season in a row for the club as they again have made it to three finals (one European and two Portuguese cup finals). Sevilla meanwhile will believe they are destined to win this tournament after their dramatic passage to the final following an epic semi-final with Valencia. There will be no surprise if this match goes the distance in Turin, with perhaps even penalties set to play a role. Benfica ultimately have more firepower, and though Sevilla have genuine quality in their squad, the Portuguese side are set to put the curse of Bela Guttman to rest. Benfica 3-2 Sevilla.
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