The 2022/23 UEFA Europa League will be on the line when Sevilla vs AS Roma clash in the final at the Puskas Arena on Wednesday.

Match Details:

• Location: Bundapest, Hungary
• Stadium: Puskas Arena
• Date: Wednesday 31 May
• Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
• Referee: Anthony Taylor (ENG)
• VAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)

Sevilla vs Roma: Match Preview

The 2022/23 season is on the cusp of ending, with only a few high-stakes encounters remaining before the curtains fall. One such match will see Sevilla and AS Roma locking horns at the Puskas Arena in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday night.

Faccio un giro per distrarmi un po'

🎻 Budapest: pic.twitter.com/br8FEZqemJ

— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) May 30, 2023

2022/23 has been a bizarre campaign for Sevilla, who might finish the season outside the top half of La Liga. But considering they were in the relegation zone for so long, they will be happy with the final output. As for Los Nervionenses's output in Europe, they finished third in UEFA Champions League Group G behind Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.

But the Andalusian giants have been top-notch in the UEFA Europa League, despite their defensive shortcomings. They beat PSV Eindhoven in the playoffs before beating Fenerbahce, Manchester United, and Juventus in the three knockout stages. As for AS Roma, they finished second in the UEFA Europa League Group C before getting past Red Bull Salzburg to reach the Round of 16.

Read More: https://sportzpoint.com/football/5-big-teams-who-will-miss-uefa-champions-league-next-season/

The Giallorossi then eased past Real Sociedad, Feyenoord, and Bayer Leverkusen, with Jose Mourinho again showcasing his European pedigree. But Roma's Serie A campaign is not ending well, as a seven-game winless run has dropped them to sixth on the table and out of top-four contention. So the Europa League is their best avenue to reach next season's Champions League.

▶️ Como el 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗔 no hay nadie… ❤️#UEL #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/g7TLUTmadT

— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) May 30, 2023

Sevilla and AS Roma last met in the UEFA Europa League in 2020, with Los Nervionenses grabbing a 2-0 win. 

Team News:

Sevilla:

Mendilibar happily rested most of his big names last time out against Real Madrid, with the likes of Jesus Navas, Alex Telles, Fernando, Lucas Ocampos and Youssef En-Nesyri all set to return to the starting lineup.

📸 𝕍𝕒𝕞𝕠𝕤, 𝕊𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕒. 🙌🏼#UELfinal #NadieLaQuiereComoNosotros pic.twitter.com/25qPl4c5NH

— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) May 30, 2023

Left-back Marcos Acuna is suspended, not for the red card he picked up against Real, but rather the two yellows he was shown in the semi-final second leg against Juventus. Two red cards in nine days? Pretty good going, that.

AS Roma:

Paulo Dybala faces a late fitness test as he seeks to overcome an ankle injury. The Argentine trained on Monday and is expected to start.

Mourinho: "È dal momento in cui siamo arrivati a questa finale che vogliamo giocarla"#ASRoma #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/jRocDgaPTc

— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) May 30, 2023

Lorenzo Pellegrini and Leonardo Spinazzola are both expected back as well, but Rick Karsdorp, Marash Kumbulla and Mady Camara are likely to miss out.

Sevilla vs Roma: Head to Head

Sevilla have a good record against AS Roma and have won two out of the four matches that have been played between the two teams, as opposed to AS Roma's one victory.

🐺🇭🇺#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/s68xKJtBL4

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 30, 2023

Sevilla have reached the final of the UEFA Europa League for the seventh time this season – more than any other team in the history of the competition.

AS Roma are appearing in the final of the UEFA Europa League for only the second time in their history and lost their previous final against Inter Milan in 1991.

The previous meeting between the two teams in the UEFA Europa League took place in the 2019-20 season and ended in a 2-0 victory for Sevilla.

Predicted Line-ups:

Sevilla predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Telles; Fernando, Rakitic; Ocampos, Torres, Gil; En-Nesyri

Roma predicted lineup (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Cristante, Matic, Spinazzola; Dybala, Pellegrini; Abraham

SEV vs ASM: Fantasy XI

Bounou; Navas, Mancini, Smalling, Spinazzola; Dybala, Pellegrini, Rakitic, Ocampos, En-Nesyri, Abraham.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Manchester United vs Athletic Club Bilbao in the Europa League 2024-25 semi-final second leg at the Old Trafford stadium in London. 

United are leading by 3-0 after the first leg, and they would be favourites to enter the final. However, Athletic Club Bilbao have everything in their armoury to surprise United at their home. 

Read Also | What would you rather choose? Crashing out in the UCL semis or winning the Europa League

Knowing United's home record this season, along with their inconsistent performances, we can expect a great fight from Bilbao. So, sit back and relax as Koushik Biswas brings you the buildup, LIVE updates and text commentary of the Manchester United vs Athletic Club Bilbao Europa League semi-final second leg match. 

Enjoy the coverage.

Trent John Alexander-Arnold has become a symbol of modern football excellence during his time at Liverpool Football Club. He made his senior debut in 2016 under Jurgen Klopp.

Trent quickly became a regular in the first team, changing the right-back role with his creativity, accurate passing, and attacking style.

One of Arnold's biggest moments came in the 2018–19 Champions League, during the famous semi-final comeback against Barcelona at Anfield. That season, Liverpool went on to win their sixth Champions League title, with Trent playing a crucial role throughout the tournament.

Read Also | Every Premier League club’s biggest Free Transfer Exit

Domestically, Alexander-Arnold was instrumental in Liverpool's 2019–20 Premier League title win, their first in 30 years.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Stats for Liverpool FC (Overall)

Total Matches Played - 352

Goals Scored - 23

Assists Made - 92 

During his time at Liverpool FC, Trent Alexander-Arnold has won the following titles: 

• UEFA Champions League - 1 (2018-19)
• FIFA Club World Cup - 1 (2020)
• Premier League - 2 (2019-20, 2024-25)
• UEFA Super Cup - 1 (2019-20)
• FA Cup - 1 (2022)
• English League Cup - 2 (2022, 2024)
• Community Shield - 1 (2022-23)

UEFA Champions League Stats for Liverpool

Read Also | Champions League winners list since 1955/56

UEFA Europa League

 FIFA Club World Cup Stats

Premier League Stats

Read Also | Most Premier League Titles till 2025

UEFA Super Cup Stats

FA Cup Stats

English League Stats

Community Shield

Manchester United have stormed into the headlines after beating Olympique Lyonnais 5-4 in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League 2024-25 Quarter-finals last night, advancing to the semi-finals with a breathtaking 7-6 aggregate. 

Unbelievable.#UEL pic.twitter.com/EtpedjkEL8

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 17, 2025

The Red Devils also became the first-ever European team to score two goals in the 120th minute of a major European match, which completed a supernatural comeback for them at the Theatre of Dreams.

A total of 13 goals from both sides defined their destiny, as Manchester United have sealed their passage to the semis, whereas Lyon's continental journey has come to an end.

In this article, we explore the list of Europa League knockout ties for the most goals scored.

Read Also | Manchester United shortlist Lyon star Rayan Cherki as new transfer target

Most Goals in a Europa League Knockout Tie

14 Goals | Rangers 9-5 Royal Antwerp (2020/21)

Rangers earned a gloriously chaotic 9-5 aggregate win over Royal Antwerp in the Round of 32, which is still the highest-scoring two-legged tie in the UEFA Cup/Europa League knockout round.

14 - Rangers 9-5 Royal Antwerp is the highest-scoring two-legged tie in the UEFA Cup/Europa League since Helsingborgs 8-6 Heerenveen in the 2007-08 first round. Entertainment. pic.twitter.com/frch3j5pq4

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 25, 2021

Rangers defeated Antwerp 4-3 in the first leg encounter at the Bosulistadion in Belgium, securing a slender lead in the tie. The second leg turned out to be an absolute rampage as the Scottish side netted four second-half goals at the Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, winning 5-2 and securing their qualification to the next round of the competition.

13 Goals | Porto 10-3 Spartak Moskva (2010/11)

FC Porto displayed absolute domination over Spartak Moskva in the 2010-11 Europa League quarter-finals, beating them 10-3 on aggregate. 

🔵⚪ Em 2010/11, o FC Porto conquistou quatro troféus. O primeiro foi a Supertaça, com uma vitória sobre o Benfica por 2-0
⚽ Rolando e Falcao marcaram os golos
👉 https://t.co/XoxFO4DMap#FCPorto #FCPCDA #supertaça pic.twitter.com/OArowgPU3S

— FC Porto (@FCPorto) August 3, 2018

Porto, who also became the eventual champions of the edition, crushed Spartak in the very first leg at home, beating them 5-1 at Estádio do Dragão in Portugal. The second leg also saw the André Villas-Boas-coached Porto side dominating the Russian team, beating them 5-2 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

13 Goals | Lyon 11-2 AZ Alkmaar (2016/17)

Olympique Lyonnais ran riot over AZ Alkmaar in the 2016-17 Europa League Round of 32, beating the Dutch side 11-2 over two legs.

Véritable récital offensif ce soir au @ParcOL !!
La #teamOL bat @AZAlkmaar sur le score de 7 buts à 1 !!
Direction les 8e de finale !! 👊🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/AzRSWyXAwG

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) February 23, 2017

Lyon defeated AZ 4-1 in the first leg, played away at the AFAS Stadion in the Netherlands. In the return leg at OL Stadium, the French outfit went ruthless against AZ, earning a massive 7-1 victory at home.

13 Goals | Manchester United 8-5 Roma (2020/21)

Last night was not the first time that Manchester United took part in a goals galore, as they thrashed AS Roma 8-5 on aggregate in the 2020-21 UEL semi-finals.

Man United practically secured their passage to the final with a magnificent 6-2 win in the first leg, scoring five goals in the second half at Old Trafford. The next game at the Olimpico Stadium in Rome ended in a 3-2 win for Roma. However, United entered the final.

HT: Man United 1-2 Roma
88' Man United 6-2 Roma

What a come back from Man United 👏 pic.twitter.com/2XJ9tcytjl

— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) April 29, 2021

This was also the last time the Red Devils qualified for a European competition final, though they lost to Villareal in a gut-wrenching penalty shoot-out.

13 Goals | Liverpool 11-2 Sparta Praha (2023/24)

Liverpool had a resounding victory over Sparta Praha, beating them 11-2 over two legs in last season's UEL Round of 16.

9 - Liverpool progressed past Sparta Prague 11-2 on aggregate; their biggest margin of victory over a two-legged tie in European football since the 1980-81 campaign against Finnish side OPS (also 11-2 on aggregate, in the European Cup first round). Cruise. pic.twitter.com/ZeTSkpEZoc

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 14, 2024

In the first leg at Stadion Letná in Prague, the Reds earned a brilliant 5-1 victory, securing a massive four-goal cushion in the tie. In the second leg at Anfield, Liverpool dismantled the Czech side, thrashing them 6-1 at home to qualify for the quarter-finals.

However, the English side's campaign ended after losing to eventual champions Atalanta in the quarters.

13 Goals | Manchester United 7-6 Lyon (2024/25)

Manchester United and Olympique Lyonnais have gifted us one of the most memorable Europa League knockout ties this season, as the Red Devils were through to the semi-finals after a knife-edge 7-6 victory over two legs in the quarter-finals.

A comeback for the ages at Old Trafford.

Manchester United, who trailed 10-man Lyon 4-2 with six minutes remaining, win 5-4 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate thanks to Harry Maguire's late winner.

Have you ever seen anything like that?

Incredible. #MUFC | #UEL pic.twitter.com/GCeIgaBmnj

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) April 17, 2025

Rayan Cherki's last-minute strike salvaged a 2-2 draw at home for Lyon against United in the first leg played at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in France. The return leg was absolute cinema, as Manchester United's 2-0 lead at the break was overcome by Lyon as they scored four until the break of the added extra time.

However, Kobie Mainoo and Harry Maguire netted two goals after the 120th minute to fire Manchester United into the Europa League semi-finals, winning the game by 5-4.

The Spanish League, or Laliga, is the second most-viewed football league in the world. It is regarded as one of the top five elite European leagues and has legendary clubs. Many football legends played in this league but only a few of them managed to play for a long duration and hold the record of most matches in Laliga. Here is the list of the top 11 players with the most matches in Laliga.

Top 11 players with the most matches in Laliga history:

11. Lionel Messi | FC Barcelona | 520 Matches

One of the greatest players to ever grace this sport, Lionel Messi ranks 11th in the most matches in Laliga history's list with 520 appearances.

The Argentine forward came to Spain at a very young age and played for FC Barcelona since he was a teenager. The Catalan talisman also holds the record for the most goals in Laliga, with 474 strikes.

Read Also: Lionel Messi Stats: Goals in every calendar year by Messi

10. Antoine Griezmann | FC Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid | 520 Matches

Antoine Griezmann has now played 520 matches in Laliga, making him one of the players with the most matches in Laliga history.

The French international has been a pivotal player for both Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad, including his short spell in FC Barcelona. Although a player like this has never been crowned with a Laliga title, his dedication to the game has made him one of the greatest players in the league.

Read Also: Most Goals in a La Liga season - Lionel Messi leads the list

9. Manolo Sanchis | Real Madrid CF | 523 Matches

Manolo Sanchis was a Centre-back and represented Real Madrid in 523 matches, making him one of the players with the most matches in Laliga. The legendary defender won the league a total of eight times and also has two Spanish Cups in his cabinet.

8. Sergio Ramos | Real Madrid CF, Sevilla | 536 Matches

Sergio Ramos has made 536 appearances in Laliga, making him the eighth player in this list of the most matches in Laliga history.

The legendary Spanish Centre-back represented Sevilla and then Real Madrid in the competition multiple times. The former Spaniard won four UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

Read Also: Top 5 Defenders with the Most Champions League goals

7. Paco Buyo | Real Madrid, Sevilla, RCD Mallorca, RCD Coruna | 542 Matches

Paco Buyo is one of only two goalkeepers on the list who has played the most matches in Laliga history. He made 542 appearances in Laliga, turning out mostly for Real Madrid. Buyo has a special place in the club's history and won the league title six times with Real Madrid.

6. Eusebio | Real Valladolid, Celta Vigo, FC Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid | 543 Matches

Eusebio is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders, and he played his career's most matches in Laliga. The Spanish midfielder played 543 matches in Laliga, representing four clubs. Eusebio is a FC Barcelona legend, having won four titles with them. He retired from his professional career in 2002 and has since become a manager.

5. Loren Juarros | Real Sociedad, Real Burgos, Athletic Bilbao | 546 Matches

Loren Juarros is a former Spanish footballer and is known for his longevity in Laliga, having played 546 matches in the competition. Primarily a defender, he spent most of his career at Real Sociedad becoming a club legend.

His impressive appearance tally places him among the players with the most matches in Laliga. After retiring, Lorren transitioned into a sporting director role, contributing to Real Sociedad's player recruitment and development plan.

4. Raul | Real Madrid CF | 550 Matches

Raul was one of the most lethal strikers the sport has ever seen. A club legend for Real Madrid, he made over 550 matches and cemented his in the most matches in Laliga history list.

The Spaniard scored 228 goals as well during that time. He won six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League titles with the club. Currently, he is the manager of Real Madrid Castilla.

3. Raul Garcia | Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, CA Osasuna | 609 Matches

Raul Garcia has carved his place in football history by becoming one of the players with the most matches in Laliga, totaling an incredible 609 appearances.

The Spanish midfielder is known for his versatility and leadership. He played for CA Osasuna, Atletico Madrid, and Athletic Bilbao, leaving a lasting impact at each club. His longevity and consistency made him a key figure in Spanish football.

2. Andoni Zubizarreta | Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, Deportivo Alaves, FC Barcelona | 622 Matches

Andoni Zubizarreta made 622 appearances and is the player with the second-most matches in Laliga. The Goalkeeper extensively for Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, Deportivo Alaves, and FC Barcelona.

He won the league a total of six times, four with FC Barcelona and two with Athletic Bilbao. Zubizarreta retired from the sport in 1998. 

1. Joaquin | Real Betis, Malaga CF, and Valencia | 622 Matches

Joaquin holds the record for the most matches in Laliga, with 622 appearances throughout his career. The Spanish winger, known for his time at Real Betis, Valencia, and Malaga CF, surpassed the previous record of 622 matches held by Andoni Zubizarreta.

UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League are the two pinnacles of European club tournaments, awarding the coveted continental silverware to the top clubs in Europe. 

Borth tournaments are prestigious for clubs competing in these, and hold different merits and various aspects of prizes that come with these silverware. 

However, if you are a fan of a top club that crashed out of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, you would definitely be disheartened. But, on the other end, if your club clinches the Europa League, would you celebrate it in the same manner when your club reached the UCL semis?

This may be a tough choice for fans who naturally covet the utmost success for their beloved clubs. But this question may always arise in every football fan's mind, which one is better to choose? Crashing out in the UCL semis or winning the Europa League?

Sportz Point delves into this interesting discussion through this article.

Read Also | UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarterfinals schedule: Everything you need to know

Crashing out of UEFA Champions League Semis: Pros and Cons

Advantages 

Playing in the UEFA Champions League is already competing at the highest level, and reaching the semifinals is a very significant achievement. 

• If a mid-table club in the top five European leagues manages, or a club that belongs to a league other than the lower coefficients in the UEFA European leagues ranking, reaching this level can also provide valuable experience for the team and contribute to their reputation.
• Reaching the semifinals demonstrates a lot about the team. It means they were able to overcome the best clubs in Europe and reach the knockout stage.
• If looked at from a monetary point of view, the UCL semifinalists receive a prize money of €15 million that helps the teams to look forward to their future. The Champions League also draws more marketing or TV ratings.

UEFA prize money distribution (as of 31 Jan):

7⃣3⃣% to UCL clubs (€2.14 billion)
1⃣8⃣% to UEL clubs (€528 million)
9⃣% to UECL clubs (€265 million) pic.twitter.com/anllbpFPQK

— Football Meets Data (@fmeetsdata) January 31, 2025

Disadvantages 

Losing at this stage can be disappointing, especially if the team had induced high hopes of winning the tournament. For example, Ajax in the 2018-19 UCL claimed attention in the best possible way, beating defending champions Real Madrid on the way, but crashed out of the semi-finals.

• If a team loses in the semifinals without winning anything in the domestic league, it will be considered a disastrous trophyless season. Very few people would be impressed by a club simply for reaching the semifinals.
• On the contrary, a semi-final defeat can disrupt a team's momentum, potentially affecting their performance in domestic competitions.
• This also may lead to a massive exodus of players from the club, especially if the club is not an European powerhouse already. The top European players will go after the players who performed well for the team, leading to the dismantling of the core group, making it harder to repeat the feat in the future continental competitions. 

Winning the UEFA Europa League: Pros and Cons

Advantages 

For most of the clubs, winning a silverware is a huge achievement. Winning the Europa League has its own advantages, considering that most of the mid-table or apparently mediocre clubs compete in this tournament.

• Winning the Europa League guarantees a continental silverware, which is always better than a trophy-less season. It also ensures a direct qualification in the next season's Champions League.
• The winners of the Europa League also meet the Champions League winners in a season-end competition, called the UEFA Super Cup, which presents another opportunity to clinch another silverware.
• Winning a major European trophy significantly enhances a club's global status and reputation. This success can attract sponsors, and elite players as well.

Disadvantages 

• The biggest drawback of taking part in the Europa League, particularly of winning it, is the scheduling of midweek games. This may lead to a congested fixture, resulting in fatigue among the players as well as higher injury risks. Consequently, this affects the players' performance within domestic leagues or other tournaments. The Thursday-Sunday format of the Europa League puts more pressure on players than the Tuesday-Wednesday format of the Champions League.
• Although it is a big silverware, the Europa League is usually less prestigious than the Champions League, and therefore makes it less attractive than the clubs competing in the UCL.
• Comparing to the Champions League, the Europa League offers lower prize money. This will be a downer for the clubs that are reliant on their European competition-generated revenue, more so those operating outside the major five European clubs.

The difference in prize money between 108 clubs playing UCL, UEL and UECL visualized. pic.twitter.com/T5IZwmOhsC

— Football Meets Data (@fmeetsdata) December 14, 2024

Conclusion: Which is better?

To be honest, it is subjective and depends on different contexts.

For a world-class team that can contest the Champions League, playing in the Europa League could be a disappointment or a consolation for the team, the management and mostly, for the supporters.

However, if a team has no practical hope of winning the Champions League but can contest the title for the Europa League, it would be preferable to lift the trophy instead of qualifying to the semi-finals.

In conclusion, the Champions League semi-final defeat is an indicator of greater competition and ability, while the Europa League win is a concrete victory. So, we can say that there is no definite 'better' result between these two.