Sevilla up against Inter Milan in quest for Europa League glory
CGTN
A general view of the Europa League trophy before the Europa League Final match between Sevilla and Inter Milan on 21 August, 2020. /Ina Fassbender/Pool via Reuters

A general view of the Europa League trophy before the Europa League Final match between Sevilla and Inter Milan on 21 August, 2020. /Ina Fassbender/Pool via Reuters

Sevilla is poised to fight to extend its UEFA Europa League record later tonight in the 2019/20 final against a rejuvenated Inter Milan.

The Spanish side holds the record for most Europa League titles since its inception in 1971, having won it five times, including three times consecutively between 2014 and 2016.

Inter Milan on the other hand will be hoping to secure a first trophy in nine years, having last lifted silverware in May 2011, a seventh Coppa Italia triumph.

Inter Milan will be led from the front by record-chasing Romelu Lukaku, who may equal or surpass Ronaldo Luís Nazário's 22-year-long record for most goals for the Italian giants.

Ronaldo netted 34 goals for Inter Milan in the 1997-98 season, and Lukaku is currently at 33 goals, with 14 of those coming in just 10 Europa League games.

Ahead of the match, Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui said his side would have to remain wary of Inter's threat in tonight's match.

"The team has a very characteristic way of playing, all Conte teams have it," he told Sevilla's official website.

"It is not easy for such high-level players to play in such a peculiar collective way. The squad is full of players with a talent, they will oblige us to play an extraordinary game.

"They are at a magnificent level, a team made to play Champions League football who finished just one point off (Italian champions) Juventus in Serie A, they have magnificent players and an experienced manager."

On his part, Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte said his charges will be aiming to finish the season on a high.

"We have to play with the desire to win and bring the trophy back to Italy - and to bring a trophy back to Inter. We have to show that we're the better team,"he told UEFA.com

"It's always important to be able to tell the lads at the end of the game that we don't have any regrets. If we're the better side, we'll lift the trophy. If not, we'll have given our all, and we'll applaud our opponents."