Naturally, Sevilla have been practicing penalties. It is obligatory ahead of a major final, and more so when the opposition are coached by Jose Mourinho, whose Roma have learnt how to keep things tight and stay patient. But this Sevilla, chasing a remarkable sixth triumph in the Europa League – formerly the Uefa Cup – in 16 years, would back themselves in a shoot-out.
Two of those previous Uefa titles were won via penalties. Above all, they have faith in the skill of goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, known to all as simply ‘Bono’, whose rollercoaster season featured a total shutout in a shoot-out that made history for his country, Morocco.
It was in the World Cup last-16 tie against Spain in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Bono went through it, and the 120 minutes of attrition beforehand, unbeaten. He judged wisely to keep out spot-kicks from Sergio Busquets and Carlos Soler, dived the right way when Pablo Sarabia struck his post and put Morocco through.
What if penalties, or extra-time, are imminent at Budapest’s Puskas Arena tonight, and there’s one very late chance to settle the outcome? Sevilla would trust their centre-forward to seize it. Youssef En-Nesyri’s year, like his compatriot Bono’s, has been a story of late moments of drama.
Take En-Nesyri’s header, deflected past Manchester United’s David de Gea in the Europa League quarter-final, pointing Sevilla towards a stunning recovery. He scored in injury time at Old Trafford, where United had led 2-0 at half-time. “His goal in Manchester was the turning point,” Bono told El Pais. “It tapped into everything this club has with this competition and brought back an energy we’d been lacking.”
Sevilla 3 Man United 0: Player ratings
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SEVILLA RATINGS: Yassine Bounou – 7. Had an early wobble with an unnecessary punch. Comfortably fielded Wan-Bissaka’s low effort midway through the first period, but thereafter United’s shots were either off-target or deflected away until Casemiro’s shot on the hour which he comfortably repelled. Booked for time-wasting before fielding well from Elanga’s late effort. Getty -
Jesus Navas - 7. Restored to the starting XI after a major first leg contribution from the bench, but started at right-back in place of the suspended Gonzalo Montiel. Made a brilliant block to prevent Eriksen’s cross from a dangerous position during a rare instance of United pressure. AP -
Loic Bade – 7. In for Tanguy Nianzou after the latter’s sub-par showing at Old Trafford. Enjoyed a relaxing first period, bar one heart-in-mouth moment when he gifted possession to Sancho. Headed in the hosts’ second straight after the break and then bedded in for a fine defensive shift. AFP -
Marcao – 6. Looked to set an early tone by bulldozing Sabitzer out of play and was fortunate to escape censure. Injured himself with an innocuous clearance just before the half-hour – a shame after already spending most of the season sidelined. AP -
Marcos Acuna – 7. Hurtled into challenges, sprinted after every ball, but still found himself outwitted by Antony more than once. Looked to supply crosses wherever possible, but crucially strayed offside during the build-up to Ocampos’s disallowed goal. EPA -
Fernando – 8. Relished the early battle and displayed nifty footwork to evade both Casemiro and Sabitzer in one passage of play. Repeatedly mopped up in dangerous areas, including a superb full-stretch tackle to rob Sancho in the Sevilla area. EPA -
Nemanja Gudelj – 8. Showed a touch of flair with a brilliant rabona cross in the first half which almost led to a Sevilla second. Moved into the centre of defence and slotted in seamlessly when Marcao made way, but continued to look to push forward wherever possible. AFP -
Lucas Ocampos – 9. United couldn’t get near him for long periods. Almost got on the end of En-Nesyri’s knock-down and had his effort ruled out for a marginal offside. Set the bar for effort with a series of unopposed sprints, but will be haunted by his failure to net a second-half sitter. AFP -
Ivan Rakitic – 9. Dropped deeper into midfield but still helped orchestrate his side’s press. Had one blockbusting volley deflected wide by Casemiro, then supplied the corner for Balde’s looping header. EPA -
Erik Lamela – 8. The ex-Spurs star was sharp, pressuring Maguire crucially for Sevilla’s opener and bagging an assist for his troubles. Never stopped charging around and made life awkward for United’s defence. No surprise when he succumbed to cramp in the late stages and had to be replaced. Getty -
Youssef En-Nesyri - 9. Made his presence felt at Old Trafford and deservedly played his way into the lineup for the decisive second leg. Slotted in the opener after United’s shocking play at the back, and later capitalised after another De Gea howler to bag his second. AFP -
SUBS: Suso (Marcao, 29) – 7. Came in when Marcao sustained his injury, but Mendilibar shuffled his pack to accommodate him on the left flank. Less effective than his attacking colleagues and went to ground easily, but still contributed in the press. Getty -
Bryan Gil (Erik Lamela, 80) – N/A. Alex Telles (Marcos Acuna, 84) – N/A . Reuters -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 4. Poor pass to Maguire, who had three opponents around him, before the first goal after seven minutes. The second goal, a header, didn’t cover him with glory as he stood rooted to the spot and the header sailed over him. Slowly. Awful. The third goal was even worse. His manager is convinced by him; a lot of United fans are not. Getty -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 4. Weak shot straight at the goalkeeper when United made the first proper opening on 22. Read Sevilla’s long balls well. Getty -
Harry Maguire - 4. At fault for the first goal as he asked for the ball, then tried to pass to Wan Bissaka but instead gave the ball away. Headed two Sevilla first half attacks away and headed on target himself after 45 and then over the bar on 77. Getty -
Victor Lindelof - 4. Held his hand up after passing to an opponent in a shaky start for United. Beaten in the air on 25 after Sevilla pushed for a second. Blocked a 39th minute Suso shot, then idle as Sevilla put the ball in the net a second time. He was fortunate that it was given offside. EPA -
Diogo Dalot - 4. United tried to zonal mark for Sevilla’s second. It didn’t work. Getty -
Casemiro - 5. Strong in the air and headed over on 35, then passed the ball straight to an opponent which led to Sevilla’s second on 39 – until VAR ruled it offside. Shot on target on 61. More shots than any United player. That’s how bad United were up front. Booked. EPA -
Christian Eriksen - 5. Passing not up to the usual standard, nor his crossing as moves broke down against a superb, aggressive and highly motivated Sevilla side who’ve been fighting relegation all season. Getty -
Jadon Sancho - 5. Did well in creating United’s first opening on 22 and then again a minute later but brought off at half time as United went out of Europe to Sevilla’s for the third time in six years. United have never beaten Sevilla. Getty -
Marcel Sabitzer - 4. The main United man in the first leg with two goals. That seemed like a long, long time ago as he was an ineffective as the rest. AP -
Antony - 5. Defended well and worked hard. Crossed to Casemiro on 35, booked for petulance on 59. United don’t score enough goals and Antony isn’t creative enough. Getty -
Anthony Martial - 4. Back where he did nothing on loan last season. Little changed there in the first half. Or the second, when he limped off after 53 minutes. We’ve seen it so many times before. AP -
SUBS: Marcus Rashford (Sancho, 45) - 5. United desperately needed new impetus. Didn’t happen. Smashed a cross so far wide after 88 that home fans were laughing. Reuters -
Luke Shaw (Wan Bissaka, 45) - 5. A bit more energy. But even a sloth would have had more energy than any United player. AP -
Wout Weghorst (Martial, 53) - 4. On and shouting around to try and raise levels. One shot on 64 blocked. Which was no surprise given how long he took on the ball. AP -
Fred (Sabitzer, 67) - 5. Been peripheral for United in recent weeks with few chances, despite injuries to midfielders. Anthony Elanga (Eriksen, 86) - N/A. PA
When En-Nesyri then scored in the 81st minute in the second leg against United, the aggregate score rose to 5-2. En-Nesyri, the favoured target for Sevilla crosses, would be drawing defenders towards him in the 95th minute of the semi-final’s second leg against Juventus, the tie locked at 2-2. His run gave Eric Lamela the space and time to take Sevilla to the final.
Sevilla’s two Moroccans, the steadfast backstop, Bono, and the spearhead En-Nesyri, would be entitled to regard a trophy this evening as the perfect finish to an epoch-making season.
In December they were central, fraternal figures at the World Cup, when En-Nesyri’s mighty leap to head the only goal of the quarter-final victory over Portugal and Bono, feted for his heroics, then handed over his man-of-the match award to the striker. By reaching the last four they had set a new high standard for African football, for Arab football, at the sport’s greatest showpiece.
But it has not been an easy year for either. When they set off for Qatar, Sevilla were staring at real peril of relegation from Spain’s top division. They had sacked one manager, Julen Lopetegui, and are finishing the season under a third, Jose Luis Mendilibar. Pre-World Cup, Bono kept just one clean sheet in 15 full matches. En-Nesyri managed no goals in 10 Liga outings. Some supporters had taken to jeering him.
Bono has acknowledged that, much as the Morocco squad cultivated a warm convivial atmosphere in Qatar, he carried anxieties there. He felt particular pressure that Morocco had to play Canada in their last group game.
He was born in Canada, because his father, an academic, was working in Montreal in the early 1990s before returning with the family to Casablanca. Bono was fearful any failure against the Canadians, who Morocco beat 2-1, would prompt unfounded criticism, hints of divided loyalty.
He also had private concerns, ahead of his heroic display against Spain, because he has spent 11 years of his career with Spanish clubs since leaving Wydad Casablanca as a 21-year-old, he might hear angry suggestions, if he slipped up, that he somehow felt beholden to Spain.
En-Nesyri’s impressive World Cup could have taken him away from Sevilla, who he joined in the winter of 2020. Nice made an offer in January, and, like West Ham United’s approach the previous summer, it was rejected. Sevilla look wise in that.
En-Nesyri took his World Cup form into his club football, though as Mendilibar later admitted, he had a mixed first impression of the striker when the new coach arrived in March.
“I thought En-Nesyri looked grumpy,” Mendilibar recalled, describing the relationship that then developed. “He challenges me and I challenge him. He told me he’d get 20 goals this season, and he’s not far off.” En-Nesyri’s 18 goals, despite the poor start, have helped Sevilla clear of the drop.
Mendilibar would drop Bono from his Liga starting XI, but made him first choice in the Europa League. And that’s the competition that could turn a patchy year for the club into a glorious one – and the cup that can make a very special season for Morocco's history-makers feel complete.
