Sevilla won the 2015 Europa League title with a 3-2 victory over Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in Warsaw on Wednesday.
Dnipro took the lead in the seventh minute through Nikola Kalinic, but goals from Grzegorz Krychowiak and Carlos Bacca turned the match on its head after 31 minutes.
Dnipro managed to level late in the first period through Ruslan Rotan, but Bacca's second of the match in the 73rd minute ensured that Sevilla lifted the trophy for a record-breaking fourth time.
Here, Sports Mole dissects the 90 minutes of action in Warsaw.
Match statistics
DNIPRO
Shots: 12
On target: 5
Possession: 42%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 24
SEVILLA
Shots: 18
On target: 5
Possession: 58%
Corners: 11
Fouls: 16
Was the result fair?
Despite Dnipro's incredible progression to the final, Sevilla entered the match as the firm favourites to triumph. There is just something about Sevilla in this competition and they have created history by winning the UEFA Cup/Europa League for a fourth time, which is credit to those involved in Seville. Many predicted a tight match in Warsaw, but that was not what occurred. Both teams were willing to commit players forward and attack, which created one of the best European finals in recent memory. Statistics rarely paint a false picture in football, however, and the numbers do favour Sevilla in all of the important areas.
Sevilla had 58% possession, while they had 18 attempts - six more than Dnipro. The second period was certainly a lot tighter than the first, but as the match developed, Sevilla looked the team more likely to score a third goal. At 2-2, it did appear that Dnipro were settling for extra time and possibly beyond, but one sloppy piece of defending cost them. The closeness of the scoreline is a reflection of matters on the field, with Dnipro certainly playing their part in a high-quality final. When digging beneath the surface, however, there can be little argument that the correct team lifted the 2015 Europa League title here.
Dnipro's performance
There was a big surprise in Myron Markevych's XI in Warsaw, with former Blackburn Rovers striker Kalinic given the nod ahead of Yevhen Seleznyov. The decision paid dividends early on, however, when Kalinic headed a super Matheus cross into the bottom corner to send Dnipro into an early lead. The Ukrainian outfit never really built on their advantage, however, and Sevilla launched a strong response. The equaliser came in the 27th minute when Dnipro failed to defend a corner and Markevych will also be a little disappointed with his team's defending for Sevilla's second, with Bacca allowed space to race onto a through-ball before finishing into the back of the net. At that point, Sevilla were very much in control of matters, but a super free kick from Rotan levelled the scores in the 44th minute. A sensational first period had brought four goals and chances at either end. However, Dnipro just never really pushed on in the second 45 minutes.
There was not a chance of note for either side until the 64th minute when Stephane Mbia headed over the crossbar for Sevilla and as mentioned, the Spanish side always looked the more threatening in the final third. The winning goal would also have disappointed the Dnipro supporters, with their team just never clearing their lines. Mbia and Vitolo were both involved outside the Dnipro box and it was the latter who poked a pass into Bacca and the striker finished into the bottom corner. Dnipro did up their game in the latter stages, but clear chances remained at a premium as the final minutes approached. The Ukrainian outfit claimed a number of scalps en route to the final, including defying the odds to beat Napoli in the last round. However, this was just one game too far and their big players, notably Yevhen Konoplyanka, just did not produce on a consistent basis. That said, it was definitely a gallant effort from a team in their first ever European final.
Sevilla's performance
Just like Markevych, Sevilla boss Unai Emery's biggest decision in terms of team selection involved the forward positions and it was Bacca that was given the nod over Kevin Gameiro, who was the first-choice Europa League striker earlier in the campaign. Bacca just could not be left out of this type of game, however, and the Colombian came to the forefront with two goals and an assist. As mentioned, it was hardly the best start from Sevilla, but Emery will be delighted with the quick response. Krychowiak showed excellent ability to control inside a crowded box before finishing into the bottom corner, and Sevilla were ahead just three minutes later when Bacca collected a through pass from Reyes before firing home. Both teams had chances to add to their total as the first period developed, but a stunning free kick from Rotan left the game all square.
It took a bit of time for Sevilla to get going in the second period, but they did gain control in the latter stages and eventually took the lead in the 73rd minute when Bacca collected a through pass from Vitolo before finishing into the bottom corner. In truth, it was no more than the Spanish side deserved and they should have made it more comfortable in the latter stages. Bacca twice came close to scoring a third in the 79th minute, but the striker was eventually replaced by Gameiro having failed to register a hat-trick. All of the late opportunities fell to Sevilla, with Coke also missing from close range during a period where Dnipro looked short of ideas. It was perhaps a more difficult match than Sevilla would have expected, but they were in control for long spells and even at 1-0 behind, never panicked. Emery's team just missed out on qualification for the Champions League via their league position, but will now play in next season's group stages following their victory here. Overall, it has been an excellent season for Sevilla.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Carlos Bacca: This is not a difficult decision. Bacca has been an absolute revelation since joining Sevilla from Club Brugge in 2013 and he contributed one assist and two goals in Warsaw. Both of the Colombian's efforts were excellent finishes and they took his total to 29 goals for the season. Sevilla will do very well to keep hold of the talented goalscorer this summer, with a number of European clubs circling.
Biggest gaffe
Dnipro have been widely praised for their defending in the knockout stages of this competition and rightly so, but there were a couple of poor moments for the Ukrainian team in this game. Reyes was allowed far too much space to pick a pass for Sevilla's second of the match, while Markevych's side failed to clear their lines deep in the second period and they were punished when Vitolo managed to poke a pass into Bacca. On reflection, all three of Sevilla's goals could have been defended better from Dnipro's point of view.
Referee performance
As expected, it was a busy evening for referee Martin Atkinson. The English official issued eight yellow cards, but for the most part, did allow the game to flow in the correct areas. Sevilla had a couple of penalty shouts that involved Reyes and Vitolo, but on reflection, Atkinson got both decisions right. It is never easy for referees to oversee matches that are so highly-charged, but Atkinson can be pleased with the role that he played in the showpiece event.
What next?
Dnipro: The Ukrainian side can still finish second in their domestic league if they beat Hoverla in their final game of the season on May 30, but they will need Shakhtar Donetsk to slip up.
Sevilla: Sevilla's season is now finished and the future of Emery will be a big talking point. The Spaniard is believed to have a firm offer from AC Milan. It is just vital that Sevilla keep the 43-year-old.
Matt Law
