Sevilla won a record fourth Europa League trophy after beating Dnipro in a thrilling final in Warsaw on Wednesday.
Bacca’s brace ensured Sevilla headed back home with back to back Europa League titles. In winning the competition, Sevilla created history by doing so for the record fourth time. They went one better than Inter Milan, Juventus and Liverpool, with whom they had been level on three wins before kick-off. Dnipro meanwhile, were playing in their first major European final,
The defending champions got an early shock as Dnipro’s Nikola Kalinic gave the Ukraine club a seventh-minute lead. However, the Spanish side recovered quickly as Grzegorz Krychowiak scored in the twenty eighth minute and Bacca gave Sevilla the lead just three minutes after that. In an absolutely enthralling first half, Dnipro’s Ruslan Rotan’s made it 2-2 right before the first half whistle with a clever free-kick.
The two teams went into half time with a scoreline that read 2-2 and an equally exciting second half awaited the viewers. Both teams had chances before Bacca broke through in the 73rd minute to seal victory for Sevilla. Unai Emery’s side has also won a place in next season’s Champions League with the win. This is great news for the club who had initially missed out on a Champions League spot with a fifth placed finish in the league.
Elated Sevilla coach Unai Emery said after the win, “Reaching the final was the most important thing and once we did we had to enjoy it. I’m very happy here,”
“We wanted this competition a lot, all Sevilla did. There have been a lot of finals, this the latest, against a very physical, strong team. The joy makes the work worthwhile.
“We have always competed with many difficulties. We had to continue working whether the game was in our favour or against us. At half-time we talked and said we had to be calm because we were required to compete in attack and defence. This group deserves it.”
Match winner Carlos Bacca said, “I am very happy for the trophy. It was our objective. I dedicate it to God, all the people of Colombia, my family, my wife. It is something unique. I want to enjoy this moment. I helped with two goals but the important thing is the team won the trophy.”
Dnipro coach Myron Markevych, whose side played exceptionally well, especially considering this was their first European final, said post the match, “Unfortunately we allowed Bacca the chance to be aggressive. We made a lot of mistakes in defence.Sevilla were more experienced, and I think that showed. But we tried to play our best game.”