Rome-Feyenoord, a historical final

José Mourinho’s Roma and Feyenoord will star this Wednesday in Tirana a duel between historic European football and together they will write a new chapter in history: one of them will be the first champion of the Conference League, the new tournament created by UEFA this season.

They only met once: in the round of 32 of the 2014-15 Europa League, when Roma eliminated Feyenoord (1-1, 2-1). The Rotterdam team was European champion in 1969-70, won the Intercontinental Cup in 1970 and has two UEFA Cups to its name, 1973-74 and 2001-02 (in 2022 it lost in the European Super Cup against Real Madrid 3- 1.). Therefore, Feyenoord has not achieved a European trophy in 20 years. and he dreamed of doing so against Rome.

But also Rome has emergencies and wants to raise the Conference League in the sky of Tirana. At the continental level, the ‘giallorossi’ only had one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1960-61), but they were runner-up in Europe in 1983-84, when they fell to Liverpool on penalties (2-4) , and during the UEFA Cup 1990-91 (Inter beat them 2-1). Tonight is Rome’s first European final in 31 years.

Rome has Mourinho’s experience in the finals: two in the Champions League and two in the UEFA Cup / Europa League won the Portuguese coach, who holds the record for the continental semi-finals (total of 11) and if he wins this trophy he will achieve a new record in his career. The Portuguese were the first to reach the Champions League, UEFA/European League and Conference finals.

Roma, who eliminated Leicester in the semi-finals, have Tammy Abraham, who has scored 28 goals in all competitions so far this season, as one of their greatest strengths. The former Chelsea striker (who scored a decisive goal in the second leg of the semi-final against Leicester, 1-0) is the second highest scorer in the Conference League, with 9 ‘goals’, just behind Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord), author of 10.

The last minute good news for Roma is that Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is recovering from injury, was able to train yesterday and all indications are that he will be fit to play at least throughout the match.

Meanwhile, Feyenoord finished 3rd in the recently concluded Eredivisie, behind Ajax and PSV, and are also guaranteed a place in the next Europa League. Arne Slot’s team left Jorge Sampaoli’s Marseille without a final, which they eliminated in the semifinals.

Bijlov was able to travel

Finally goalkeeper Justin Bijlow was able to travel to Tirana. Slot hopes to rely on defenders Tyrrel Malacia and Gernot Trauner, who both have physical problems. Feyenoord has the highest scorer in the Conference League, the aforementioned Dessers, and the third, Colombian Luis Sinisterra, who scored 6 in that tournament and has a total of 23 in all competitions this season.

If Eintracht Frankfurt were crowned first, in its case as Europa League champions last week, Arena Kombëtare would be second. Rome or Feyenoord, after a long wait.