Jose Mourinho is at it again, folks, but his Roma side will have to overcome the Europa League’s final boss if they’re to claim continental glory at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Victory in the inaugural Europa Conference League earned Roma automatic qualification into this season’s Europa League, and a win on Wednesday night is paramount given their domestic collapse.

The Giallorossi have ground their way through the gauntlet in typical Jose-led fashion to reach the competition’s showpiece event, and a war of attrition is expected in the final where six-time winners Sevilla await.

Jose Luis Mendilibar has salvaged what looked to be a wretched season for the Andalusians. The threat of relegation was once very real, but Mendilibar has guided Sevilla up to mid-table in La Liga all while helping them beyond the likes of Man Utd and Juventus to reach yet another Europa League final.

Here’s what the head-to-head record between the two finalists looks like.

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Roma and Sevilla have only encountered each other once in competitive action. The two sides met in the Europa League round of 16 during the Covid-hit 2019/20 season which saw all of the knockout ties played over one leg in Germany once the season resumed.

Sevilla came out victorious against Paulo Fonseca’s Romans thanks to goals from Sergio Reguilon and Youssef En-Nesyri in a 2-0 victory. Gianluca Mancini, who’s impressed for the Italians this season, was sent off late on.

Their other three encounters have all come in recent pre-season friendlies. They’ve played three summer fixtures since 2015, and their first was an absolute barnstormer. Roma ran out 6-4 victors as Edin Dzeko, Mohamed Salah and Francesco Totti all got on the scoresheet.

Sevilla triumphed in their second meeting two years later in 2017. Dzeko once again scored for Roma, but his strike was a mere consolation after Sergio Escudero and Nolito had given the Spanish side a 2-0 lead. The most recent meeting ended in a goalless stalemate.

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Roma’s history with Spanish clubs dates back to the 1962/63 season when they faced Real Zaragoza in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup last 16. The Italians progressed over two legs and would later face Valencia in the semi-finals. Valencia, however, triumphed 3-1 on aggregate.

Overall, Roma have played 39 competitive matches against Spanish opposition in various UEFA competitions and against a myriad of clubs. The Giallorossi have faced Clasico behemoths Barcelona and Real Madrid on several occasions each, as well as Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, and Real Betis.

They’ve never faced a Spanish side in a UEFA competition beyond the quarter-finals since their defeat to Valencia, and their record against the Spaniards makes for grim reading. Roma have won just 13 of their 41 meetings, losing 22.

Their most recent victory over La Liga opposition, however, was arguably their most memorable. Barcelona took a 4-1 lead into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, but an inspired Roman comeback, completed by „the Greek God“ Kostas Manolas, meant the Giallorossi progressed on away goals.

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Sevilla’s first encounter against Serie A opposition arrived fairly recently in 2005 as they took on the once majestic Parma in the UEFA Cup round of 16. A tightly-fought contest was decided by just one goal, and it was the Italians who progressed.

Sevilla have fared pretty well against Italian clubs over the years, winning half of their 14 matchups. They’ve beaten the likes of Fiorentina, Lazio and Roma comfortably, but their most significant triumph arrived in the 2020 Europa League final against Antonio Conte’s Inter.

Conte’s Nerazzurri were favoured heading into the contest, but Sevilla worked their voodoo magic in the competition they cherish the most to prevail by a 3-2 scoreline.

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