Ramos: Espanyol no Boro

Sevilla swept aside their English opponents with an irresistible display of attacking football to claim an emphatic 4-0 win in Eindhoven last year, but coach Juande Ramos is certain Espanyol will prove a harder nut to crack.

"I think it will be more difficult for us this time round because we have been labelled favourites," Ramos told a news conference at Hampden Park.

"Of course we hope to have the same good fortune and hope for a game as attractive as last year's final. We would also love the same result but we know they will make life very difficult for us.

"It is always worrying to be labelled as favourites ahead of a one-off game and Espanyol have been brilliant in this competition this season. We know it will be very hard match.

"This time we have less chance of surprising our opponents because they know us so well, but because of the way the two sides play football I still expect it to be a spectacular game."

Ramos, whose side are aiming to become the first side to make a successful defence of the UEFA Cup since Real Madrid in 1986, said that Espanyol's memories of defeat in the 1988 final would made his opponents even more motivated.

"I expect an ambitious Espanyol with a desire to win the Cup and gain revenge for the defeat some years back," he said.

"They have played against very tough teams on the way to the final and they've put all their efforts into this competition at the expense of the league, so that worries me too as it shows how important this competition is for them.

"What make me confident, however, is that my players have always performed well in the big matches and I know that Espanyol will have to play very well indeed if they want to win this game."

Sevilla are still in the running for an historic treble with chances to win the league and Copa del Rey.

Captain Javi Navarro said last year's victory had made the team realise the importance of winning a European trophy.

"We all want to repeat the experience of last year," said the centre-back. "We know what it is like to win this Cup and we want to do that again because we are now more conscious of what it means."