Data drop: Everything you need to know about tonight’s Europa League final
Sevilla and Roma are set to face off in the Europa League final at the Puskás Aréna.
Giallorossi boss José Mourinho will be looking to make it six European final wins from six and maintain his perfect streak in continental competitions by claiming a third Europa League title.
Meanwhile, José Luis Mendilibar is aiming to win the first trophy of his managerial career after being appointed by Sevilla in March 2023.
The 62-year-old may lack pedigree at this level, but the Andalusian outfit do not – they are the competition’s most successful side, lifting the trophy six times.
We analysed the finalists using the Twenty3 Toolbox ahead of their high-stakes clash in Budapest.
Soaring Sevilla
Sevilla’s primary method of attack is to deliver the ball into the box at every opportunity.
No team has averaged more corners per 90 than Sevilla (7.5) and they also rank third for crosses attempted (22.63) – completing 7.25 of those.
Additionally, the Spanish side average 2.88 shots from headers per 90 – the fifth-most in the competition.
Their aerial approach has paid dividends, helping them average 1.63 goals per game.
Roma sitting deep
Jose Mourinho will be hoping to win European trophies in successive years with Roma after leading the Italian outfit to the inaugural Europa Conference League title last season.
Under his guidance, the Giallorossi play pragmatically, dropping into a deep and compact unit off the ball and looking to hit teams on the counter when they regain possession.
They are effective at negating opponents with this approach, managing six clean sheets – the joint-most in the competition alongside Manchester United.
That defensive solidity does not come at the cost of attacking threat, however. Roma have completed 2.29 of their 7.86 attempted through-balls per 90 and recorded 20.14 touches inside the opposition box.
Additionally, they average 1.73 xG per 90 – the fifth-best in the tournament – but their finishing has been below par, managing 1.43 goals per 90.
Discipline
Sevilla are among the more ill-disciplined sides in the competition, although Roma do not fall too far behind.
The Spanish outfit have picked up 2.88 yellow cards per 90 compared to Roma’s 2.29.
In last year’s Europa Conference League final, Mourinho’s men picked up four yellow cards, being shown seven across the two legs of the Europa League semi-final this term.
Sevilla were shown the same number of yellow cards in the semi-finals, though two of those were directed at Marcos Acuña in the second leg, leading to his dismissal.
Moroccan marksman
Youssef En-Nesyri is the man to watch for Sevilla.
The Morocco international has bagged four goals in the competition this season and comes into this final in flying form.
Three of his strikes have come in his last three Europa League matches – two in the second leg of the quarter-final and one in the semi-final first leg.
He leads the team in non-penalty shots on target (nine), while half of his 16 efforts were headed.
On top of his attacking contributions, he wins more aerial duels (25) and attempts more loose ball duels (33) and pressing duels (71) than any of his teammates.
The 25-year-old will hope he can produce his best in the final and lead Sevilla to a record seventh Europa League title.
Leading light Lorenzo
With leading goalscorer Paulo Dybala an injury doubt, Roma may have to look elsewhere in his absence.
Tammy Abraham and Andrea Belotti operate as a strike partnership, but neither has set the Europa League stage alight – neither has scored in the competition since the team reached the round of 16.
Further back, however, lies Lorenzo Pellegrini, with four goals and four assists – and two of those contributions came in a crunch quarter-final clash against Bayer Leverkusen.
The attacking midfielder has taken more shots than any other player in the competition (32) and is also a threat from dead balls, leading his team in shots from free-kicks (five) and scoring twice from the penalty spot.
Pellegrini may need to step up in attack for Roma, given the likely absence of Dybala and flagging form of Abraham and Belotti.
All visualisations and Smart Reports in this article were produced with the Twenty3 Toolbox. For more information, please get in touch below.