Sevilla break Dnipro hearts to defend title

Sevilla defended their Europa League crown with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Dnipro in Warsaw.

In a pulsating first half, the Ukrainians, playing in their first ever European final, edged into a shock lead after former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic started and finished a fine move.

However, two goals in three minutes and 38 seconds turned the tables.

Firstly, Grzegorz Krychowiak pivoted well in the penalty area and fired past Denys Boyko in the Dnipro goal to level proceedings, before the in-form Carlos Bacca latched onto a perfect Jose Antonio Reyes throughball to complete the turnaround.

Nonetheless, the Ukrainians were not to be deterred as Ruslan Rotan clipped a sublime free-kick over the wall and past a helpess Sergio Rico in the Sevilla goal to restore parity once again just one minute before the break.

The second half never matched the intensity of the first as both sides looked nervous in their pursuit of a winner, with Reye’s withdrawal hindering the Rojiblancos a great deal.

Yet Bacca would not be tamed for long, and the Colombian popped up with the winner in the 73rd minute after being picked out brilliantly by Vitolo. He even managed to earn himself a booking for celebrating with a Colombian flag in the aftermath.

The result sees Sevilla become the first side to win four UEFA Cup/Europa League titles, and means there will be five Spanish teams in next season’s Champions League.

Meanwhile, Dnipro forward Matheus appears to have suffered nothing more serious than a broken nose despite collapsing late on.

The Brazilian forward was stretchered off in the final minutes. Matheus did respond to the medical attention while on the pitch and Sport reports the 32-year-old may have broken his nose after a clash of heads with Benoit Tremoulinas, a nasty injury but far less serious that it first appeared.

7’ - GOAL! Dnipro 1-0 Sevilla. What a start from Dnipro! They lead 1-0 thanks to a header from their top scorer in Europe this season Kalinic! They love to soak up pressure and catch sides on the break, and that is exactly what happened.

29’- GOAL! Dnipro 1-1 Sevilla. We are level as, back in his homeland, Krychowiak fires Sevilla's equaliser. After Reyes' shot was blocked over, the resulting corner is played short, cross comes in, which Krychowiak brings down brilliantly, touches it out of his feet, and fires past Boyko.

32’- GOAL! Dnipro 1-2 Sevilla. Two goals in three minutes and 38 seconds have put Sevilla in front, and of course, it is Bacca! Brilliant throughball from Reyes, and the Colombian shows great compose to round the onrushing Boyko and slot home. Fine goal, and portrayed everything that is good about Sevilla on the attack.

36’ - SAVE! The Dnipro dangerman Konoplyanka brings the best out of Sergio Rico in the Sevilla goal. The fine, curling effort looked to be heading for the top corner, but Sergio Rico, at full stretch, tips it over.

42’ - CLOSE! Tremendous strike from Vidal on the run, which flies just over the top. Boyko was beaten.

44’ - ANOTHER GOAL!Dnipro 2-2 Sevilla. Would you believe it, Dnipro are level! 2-2! Ruslan Rotan with a sublime free-kick. It seemed like Sevilla were on course for victory, but Rotan had other ideas. Really was a perfect free-kick, and was simply clipped over the wall. Sergio Rico had no chance.

69’ - CLOSE! Vitolo goes down looking for a penalty under challenge from Matheus, but referee Atkinson is having none of it. Waves it away. No booking for simulation though.

73’ - GOAL! Dnipro 2-3 Sevilla. That man Bacca pops up with his seventh Europa League goal of the season to put his side in front! It was all about the pass again, this time from Vitolo, who prods through for the Colombian, who does not miss when through on goal.

80’ - ALMOST THE HAT-TICK! Bacca pulls away from his man, heads at goal, but Boyko just tips it over. Just flung his arms up and managed to get something on it.

89’ - Worrying scenes here. Matheus just collapses with nobody around him. Players run to his aid. He is stretchered off, and seems to be moving. Not what we want to see.

Sevilla become the first side to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League four times. All their successes have come since 2006.

Sevilla have won all four of the Europa League finals they've played in (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015).

The last three players to score a brace in a Europa League final all came from South America: Bacca (COL), Falcao (COL), Forlán (URU).

Grzegorz Krychowiak becomes the first player to score in a Europa League/UEFA Cup final in his home country since Van Hooijdonk in 2002.

Dnipro v Sevilla is the first UEFA Cup/Europa League final with more than four goals since Porto v Celtic (3-2) in 2003.

Rotan is the first player to score a goal from outside the box in the UEFA Cup/Europa League final since Naldo (Bremen) in 2009.

No country has provided more Europa League winners than Spain has (9) - Italy also with 9.

La Liga leading the way? Sevilla are the Europa League champions again and Barcelona are favourites for the Champions League crown. The Rojiblancos’ success means there will be five Spanish teams in the Champions League season, should they come through their respective qualifiers. What’s the betting we see at least two in the last four again, and the vitriol over the Premier League’s declining standards rears its ugly head once more next campaign?

Carlos Bacca. Reyes is only just edged out, but Bacca’s clinical finishing means he picks up this prestigious award. His movement is so hard to pick up, and he times his runs to perfection. There are very few strikers as potent in front of goal in Europe right now as Bacca.

Dnipro: Boyko 6, Fedetskiy 6, Cheberyachko 6, Douglas 6, Matos 6, Kankava 5, Fedorchuk 7, Konoplyanka 7, Rotan 7, Matheus 7, Kalinic 7. Subs: Bezus 6, Shakhov 6, Seleznyov 5.

Sevilla: Sergio Rico 7, Aleix Vidal 7, Carrico 6, Kolo 6, Tremoulinas 6, Krychowiak 7, Mbia 6, Vitolo 7, Banega 6, Reyes 8, Bacca 8. Subs: Coke 7, Iborra 6, Gameiro 6.