Suspensions hit Benfica’s Europa League hopes

Turin: Two of Europe’s most influential clubs will line up for a mouth-watering Uefa Europa League final here on Wednesday, as Benfica take on Sevilla at the Juventus Stadium.

The match between the Portuguese side Benfica, who were runners-up to England’s Chelsea last season, and their Spanish opponents promises to be a great dress rehearsal before the all-Madrid Champions League final between Real and Atletico in Lisbon on May 24.

The only previous meeting between Sevilla and Benfica in European competition was 56 years ago in the 1957-58 European Cup preliminary round.

The first leg at Sevilla’s Estadio de Nervion, which marked the European debut for both clubs, was won 3-1 by the hosts. The second leg at Estadio da Luz ended goalless, giving the Spanish side victory on aggregate. Sevilla went on to reach the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions Real Madrid.

But this time all signs, including the bookmakers’ odds, seem to point to a win for Benfica in Wednesday’s final, which is backed by Uefa sponsors HTC.

Jorge Jesus’ side are the first team to reach consecutive Europa League finals after they beat Juventus 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, thus denying the Serie A giants the chance to play the final on their home ground.

Both of Benfica’s previous Uefa Cup/Europa League finals — in 1983 and last year — ended in defeats. They have also lost their last five European Cup finals, meaning their last continental success was when they won back-to-back European Cups in 1961 and 1962.

And the Benfica line-up on Wednesday will be dented as they will be unable to play either Enzo Perez or Lazar Markovic after both were sent off in the second leg of their semi-final against Juventus, while Eduardo Salvio is also suspended after being booked in the same match.

Benfica entered the Europa League from the Champions League group stage after finishing third in their group behind Paris St Germain and Olympiakos. They are the first team to reach the Europa League final unbeaten, having registering six wins and two draws.

Sevilla have also looked convincing. They reached the final after seeing off a comeback from Spanish rivals Valencia, who had lost the first leg 2-0, thanks to a strike well into injury time through Stephane Mbia, which gave them victory on away goals.

Sevilla have previously played in two Uefa Cup finals, winning in both 2006 and 2007. Should they win again this week, they will become the fourth team to claim three Uefa Cup/Europa League titles following Juventus, Inter Milan and Liverpool.

The final will be Sevilla’s 19th match in the competition, having started in the third qualifying round against Montenegrin side Mladost Podgorica. The Spaniards only qualified for the competition after Malaga were banned and Rayo Vallecano were denied a Uefa licence.

Benfica may be the favourites, but Sevilla will be no pushovers, as they rightly proved in their semi-final.