Dnipro have made their way to the Europa League final courtesy of staunch defending and timely goals. En route to the final, Dnipro have dispatched more highly favoured sides like Ajax, Club Bruges, and Napoli. The Ukrainian side were not expected to make it past Napoli in the semi-final, yet they prevailed nonetheless.
Sevilla finished fifth in La Liga and missed out on the fourth Champions League place to Valencia. However, Sevilla can still progress to next season’s competition by beating Dnipro. In the process, Sevilla would also retain the trophy that they won last season. Two wins in two years would be a momentous day for the club.
Expectations
Dnipro have contributed little by way of attacking statistics. Instead, the team dominates the aggression category. Dnipro’s 49 yellow cards are far beyond the 31 of Sevilla. Rough play and powerful tactics have allow for Dnipro to dominate their opponents.
Yevhen Konoplyanka, a mooted summer transfer target for various Premier League side, will be pivotal for counter-attacks. The pacey winger will need to elevate his game, though, as he has only managed to score a single goal in 16 European appearances this season.
Sevilla have also defended well in this year’s Europa League, which bodes well for preventing Dnipro from springing any nasty surprises. Sergio Rico have proven excellent in goal while Daniel Carriço has been a rock at the heart of the defence.
Spanish manager Unai Emery has much brighter attacking prospects than Ukrainian counterpart Myron Markevych. Carlos Bacca has scored 20 league goals and five Europa League goals up front. The Colombian hit man depends heavily on the creative passing of Argentinian midfielder Éver Banega for his chances.
Match Tips
Tip one: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.72 with ladbrokes
Tip two: Draw @ 4.00 with ladbrokes
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Dnipro will not suddenly adopt a more adventurous tactical approach. They will maintain their familiar defensive strength and attempt to steal a goal. Therefore, odds of 4.00 on a draw in 90 minutes should appeal. Under 2.5 goals at 1.72 also looks like a promising bet.
