UEFA Cup Final

It was an all Spanish affair with Sevilla against Espanyol in the final of the UEFA Cup. It always so happens that when a team is chasing a record they would end up achieving it. Sevilla did it in Penalty shootouts, though a lottery as per me they deserved to win with the attractive game they played.

Sevilla are the only second club after Real Madrid in 1985/86 to win back to back UEFA cups. They are still in the hunt in the Spanish league, Kings cup making them the only team that is still playing for three trophies. Another piece of history in the making.

The game was 1-1 in normal time. An excellent goal from Adriano with the namesake of the Brazilian forward scoring a real beauty. A long throw from keeper Palop after collecting a corner, found Adriano, his pace and persistence got him one-one with the keeper and he made no mistake with his weaker right foot.

Brazil for some reason come up with a lot of players who are supposed to be defenders but are so attack minded and slack in defending. Sevilla has Adriano who was a LB when he played in Brazil and is now a Left Attacking Midfielder. Dani Alves who some believe is the best RB in the world is very similar to Cicinho in Real Madrid where both these players are so focused on attacking.

Moises from Espanyol made two stupid tackles and found himself out of the game. Espanyol had this at a wrong time as they were picking up the game. In extra time Kanoute scored-it had to be him and out of no where Espanyol equalized through their Brazilian fire power Juantos.

In the penalty shoot out tired legs or nerves made Andres Palop the keeper of Sevilla a hero as he just let one in and saved 3.

Sevilla made the most of out of maybe the last UEFA Cup that they would be playing at least for the next year as they are sure to qualify for Champions league. Transition from the UEFA Cup to the Champions League shows that as a club they have moved to the next level in quality. They have created/grown some talent in Sevilla and have made 50M in sale of these. Baptista, Sergio Ramos and Reyes all of whom are in some way or the other related to Real Madrid and except for Ramos have failed to make an impression there. So in short Real Madrid can be said to have done a great favor to Sevilla by making them an economically stable club and in turn making them successful!!!