TONIGHT’S EUROPA LEAGUE final in Warsaw has failed to capture the imagination of most, and plenty of people are still wondering where ‘this new Ukrainian side they’ve never heard of’ actually came from.
Rest assured, there are plenty of high quality players in both Sevilla and Dnipro’s dressing rooms. We’ve picked out three of the most exciting players that will grace this evening’s showpiece in Warsaw.
Carlos Bacca
The Colombian striker has 26 goals so far this season, making him by far the most threatening player on the pitch tonight.
Outside of the top three clubs in Spain, Bacca was the leading scorer in this season’s La Liga while helping Sevilla to a fifth place finish.
Bacca is more than just a finisher, of course. While the former Club Brugge man may not be blessed with any outstanding physical attributes, his technical ability compensates and his eight assists (so far) this season shows he has an eye for a pass as well as the goal.
Should the attacking duo of Vitolo and Aleix Vidal supply him with sufficient service behind Dnipro’s stingy defence he will have the opportunity to add to the five goals he’s already scored in the Europa League.
As has been their tactic throughout the season, Bacca will likely be replaced inside the final 20 minutes to allow Kevin Gameiro to enter the fray and exploit any gaps in a tired Dnipro defence.
Yevhen Konoplyanka
The jewel in Dnipro’s crown is their Ukrainian winger. And you’re almost certain to see him play at a bigger club next season as his contract expires this summer.
Linked with Liverpool last year, it looked likely that Konoplyanka would move to Merseyside. However, despite the buy-out clause being met, club president Ihor Kolomoyskyi blocked the sale. It hasn’t hindered his performances this campaign and he has been the leading light for Dnipro on their historic run to the final.
His statistics don’t automatically demand attention: one goal and three assists in this year’s competition masks what he brings to the side as he is relied upon to be Dnipro’s counter-attacking outlet. He is at his best when running at defenders from deep and his trickery and quick feet make him difficult for backpedaling defenders to deal with – by fair means anyway.
In a side that has the emphasis mostly on the collective, Konoplyanka manages to stand out and play at a level above his team-mates. If Dnipro are to get the fairytale ending to their remarkable run they will need their diminutive winger at his very best.
Aleix Vidal
The 25-tear-old has enjoyed a somewhat breakthrough season this term, having increased his standing as Sevilla’s most potent attacking threat. Two years ago he was playing in the Segunda with Almeria. Now, after his first season in Seville, Vidal has an international call-up and is on the verge of winning a European medal.
He has six goals and nine assists to his name so far this season but, like Konoplyanka, there is far more to him than just statistics. Predominantly used as a right winger, Vidal buzzes about the final third, drifting in to pockets of space where he can affect the game even more.
In open space he really grabs the eye, he combines running at an electric pace with fine dribbling ability.
Vidal has been one of the main reasons that Sevilla have managed to make it to the final for the second successive season, and should they go one better and win it again they will need their clever winger cutting open Dnipro’s sturdy backline.