Sevilla: one step from making history

The eagerly awaited moment has arrived for Sevilla FC. After a long and hard-fought journey, los hispalenses will aim to leave the name of the Liga BBVA once more at the summit of the European stage in the final of the UEFA Europa League. At Warsaw's National Stadium on Wednesday, they face FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk looking to make history.

More than one challenge confronts the Andalusians, who have reached the final of the tournament three times and have always come out victorious. Their first two triumphs, when the competition was still known as the UEFA Cup, came in consecutive seasons – 2005-06 and 2006-07 – after beating Middlesbrough FC and RCD Espanyol respectively. The most recent arrived last term against SL Benfica. Now, they are out to repeat the feat and retain their crown, and also become the first club in history to secure the trophy four times.

The road to Warsaw

Sevilla began their European campaign in Group G, where they were drawn against Feyenoord, HNK Rijeka and R. Standard de Liège. After finishing with a total of 11 points, one less than the Dutch outfit, they advanced to the round of 32 in second place in their section.

Once through to the knockout stages, Unai Emery's men proved unstoppable all the way to earning that sought-after ticket to the final. Big names in VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, Villarreal CF, FC Zenit and ACF Fiorentina all succumbed against an impressive Sevilla side who scored 18 goals and conceded just seven in their ties against the quartet.

United dressing room

Los sevillistas have taken their full squad to the Polish capital, including the injured pair of Nico Pareja and Sebastián Cristóforo: unmistakeable further evidence of the togetherness in a dressing room that is ready to write its name into the history books. Dnipro, who appear in their first final, will be without injury victims Roman Zozulya and Serhiy Kravchenko.

Views from the dugout

"The team look happy and conscious of their task. It's good they're happy, with good chemistry and at the same time a desire to work hard. We've achieved a lot, but now we have to finish it off and seal a great season. And that shouldn’t be a source of pressure, but of excitement," said Sevilla boss Unai Emery. The Basque coach had words of praise for his opponents: "They're a well organised team. Dnipro are in the final because they compete really well. They are at a high physical level and the fact that we're up against a side that are physically in really strong shape is going to demand that we rise to that challenge. It’s going to be a tough battle."

His counterpart in the Ukrainian dugout, Myron Markevych, lauded the Spanish club’s quality: "Sevilla are very good in attack, they have very good forwards who create chances in important moments. It's a headache for us."