Sevilla vs Inter Europa League final preview: where to watch, team news

Sevilla take on Inter in the UEFA Europa League final in Cologne on Friday 21 August at 21:00 CET. This page will update with team news, quotes and expert analysis as kick-off approaches.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partner(s) here.

Possible line-ups

Sevilla: Bounou; Navas, Koundé, Diego Carlos, Reguilón; Banega, Fernando, Jordán; Suso, En-Nesyri, Ocampos
Doubtful: Ocampos (unspecified)

Inter: Handanovič; Godín, De Vrij, Bastoni; D’Ambrosio, Barella, Brozović, Gagliardini, Young; Martínez, Lukaku
Out: Vecino (knee)
Doubtful: Sánchez (thigh)

The teams

Sevilla (ESP)
UEFA ranking: 8
Domestic position: 4 (final match: 19 July)
Last five games (most recent first): WWWWD
How they got there: Group A winners, 1-1 CFR Cluj (away goals, R32), 2-0 Roma (R16), 1-0 Wolves (QF), 2-1 Manchester United (SF)
Last season: round of 16 (L vs Slavia Praha, aet)
Final record: P5 W5 L0 (most recent: 2015/16, W vs Liverpool)
Previous UEFA Cup/Europa League best: winners (2005/06, 2006/07, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16)

Internazionale Milano (ITA)
UEFA ranking: 33
Domestic position: 2 (final match: 1 August)
Last five games: WWWWW
How they got there: UEFA Champions League group stage, 4-1 Ludogorets (R32), 2-0 Getafe (R16), 2-1 Leverkusen (QF), 5-0 Shakhtar (SF)
Last season: round of 16 (L vs Eintracht Frankfurt)
Final record: P4 W3 L1 (most recent: 1997/98, W vs Lazio)
Previous UEFA Cup/Europa League best: winners (1990/91, 1993/94, 1997/98)

Previous meetings

The teams have never met in UEFA competition.

Sevilla vs Italian opposition
P13 W6 D2 L5 F13 A10

Inter vs Spanish opposition
P43 W14 D11 L18 F47 A53

How the teams are shaping up

Sevilla are 20 games unbeaten in all competitions, winning eight of their last nine, and have hit form at just the right time. They were impressive in seeing off in-form Roma and displayed patience and resolve to beat Wolves and then Manchester United. Their experience in this competition gives them an extra edge; they know how to get the job done.
Joe Walker, Sevilla reporter

Conte seems to have found the magic formula and will likely confirm the same team which reached the final with a series of fine performances. Having hit 54 goals together this season, the 'Lu-La' attacking duo is in fantastic form – both Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez struck twice in the semi-final. Martínez will turn 23 the day after the final. Could he dream of any better gift than the UEFA Europa League trophy?
Paolo Menicucci, Inter reporter

Tactics

Julen Lopetegui arranges his side in a 4-3-3 that can quickly become a 4-5-1 when not in possession. He likes them to play with unrelenting intensity, pressing high up the pitch and hounding opponents who try and play out from the back. Going forwards, keep an eye on marauding full-backs Jesús Navas and Sergio Reguilón, while Éver Banega pulls the strings in midfield.
Joe Walker, Sevilla reporter

In Italy they say: 'Squadra che vince non si tocca' (You don’t touch a winning team). Antonio Conte is following exactly that principle, naming the same starting XI for the last three games. His 3-5-2 has two men up front with two dynamic midfielders ahead of a holding player (Marcelo Brozović) and two attacking wing-backs. The build-up starts from the back, attracting the opponents' pressing and then searching for the front two – Lukaku in particular – with long balls forward.
Paolo Menicucci, Inter reporter

View from the camps

Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla coach: "Inter are equipped to compete in the Champions League given the extraordinary calibre of players they have and a very experienced manager. That will require us to be at our limit in every respect, and to be able to put in a great performance in all aspects of the game to compete with them. It is a daunting challenge."

Antonio Conte, Inter coach: "We have to play with the desire to win and bring the trophy back to Italy – and to bring a trophy back to Inter. We have to show that we're the better team. It's always important to be able to tell the lads at the end of the game that we don't have any regrets. If we're the better side, we'll lift the trophy. If not, we'll have given our all, and we'll applaud our opponents."

Lautaro Martínez, Inter forward: "I want to try to win my first title with Inter, which would be very special. It's the first final for me; it could mean the first trophy of my career. We're very close to the trophy]. We have the chance, the possibility, and we'll play like we have to."

Jules Koundé, Sevilla defender: "Lukaku is one of the best forwards in the world. He's strong in physical terms but is also good with the ball at his feet and at knockdowns. He uses his body extremely well and is quick too. It's a level above anything else we've faced this season. We'll need to up our game. Bringing the trophy back to Seville would be great."

Samir Handanović, Inter goalkeeper: "I came to Inter to win trophies. Unfortunately, the situation over the last few years wasn’t the best, but we have now reached a point where we can fight for something important. This has to be a starting point. Inter have to be a team who make a habit of playing in these kinds of matches, as they did ten, 15 years ago."

Joan Jordán, Sevilla midfielder: "We're up against very difficult opponents, and we're full of respect for them. Still, we’ll try to play like Sevilla. We’ll need to pay attention to the details, and I think the 'mini-matches' within the match will be very important. That’s what worries me the most for Sevilla."

What's next

The UEFA Super Cup trophy will be contested in BudapestUEFA via Getty Images

The UEFA Europa League winner will contest the UEFA Super Cup against UEFA Champions League holders in Budapest on 24 September. Sevilla and Inter will line up in the UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Athens on 1 October.

Europa League Final trophy ceremony

The trophy ceremony following the conclusion of tonight's game will be held after the final whistle on the pitch.

The UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin will present the trophy to the winning team, and also hand over the medals to the players and staff of both teams. The trophy ceremony procedure has been aligned with the local authorities. All officials involved in the trophy presentation have undergone COVID-19 testing, and will not be required to wear masks.

As already announced ahead of the UEFA club competition final tournaments played in Portugal (UEFA Champions League), Germany (UEFA Europa League) and Spain (UEFA Women's Champions League), UEFA's top management and operational staff in contact with the participating club's players and staff have been regularly tested throughout the tournament.