European Football Review 2022/23: Part 1

With the 2022/23 European football season now officially over, history was made, legacies were created, and new faces have joined Europe’s elite group of winners. With three European trophies on the line, we look back at the events that transpired with the UEFA’s premium cup competitions and how the finals played out for the new winners of either competition.

This is the European Football Review 2022/23

UEFA Champions League: Manchester City* vs Inter Milan

Following the build-up to the finals, the odds were in City’s favour, as they were chasing a historic treble-winning season, following their success in capturing the English Premier League and the FA Cup. Inter Milan were hoping to prevent that and add another Champions League crown to their cabinet, but the Cityzens prevailed in the end, thanks to a 68th-minute strike from Rodri. 

City were not at their sparkling best, especially under Pep Guardiola’s standards, which has been a regularity in their performances throughout the season. But after some crucial opportunities were missed by the Milan giants, City were able to hold on and win their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy, thus, becoming only the second English football club in history to win a treble, the first since Manchester United in 1999. 

A phenomenal season that not only seals this Manchester City side as one of the greatest ever, but with this being Guardiola’s third Champions League triumph, and second treble-winning season, he will no doubt be in the conversation for one of the greatest coaches of all time, if not the greatest, arguably so.

UEFA Europa League: Sevilla* vs Roma

History was on the line with this tie, in more ways than one. For Roma, Jose Mourinho, in particular, had never lost a European Cup final, and Sevilla having never lost a Europa League final. After a 1-1 stalemate that resulted in a penalty shootout, it was Sevilla who prevailed. After Roma saw two penalties missed, it was Gonzalo Montiel, the man who hit the winning penalty for Argentina in the FIFA World Cup, doing so again for Sevilla (after re-taking it).  

This victory marked Sevilla’s remarkable 7th Europa League victory, solidifying them as head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to most times won. For Roma, a devastating loss, albeit under controversial circumstances, resulted in Jose Mourinho’s first-ever European final defeat.

As per the perks of winning this coveted trophy, Sevilla find themselves playing Champions League football next season. A great achievement considering they finished in the bottom half of La Liga. 

UEFA Europa Conference League: Fiorentina* vs West Ham United*

The second-ever instalment to Europe’s brand-new cup competition saw Fiorentina face off against West Ham in the finals. Both teams having finished the season empty-handed were looking to add some silverware to their collection.

It proved to be a dramatic victory for West Ham, as the London side grabbed a winner in the 90th minute thanks to a late goal from Jarred Bowen. They become only the second team to win the competition, after Roma’s victory in the inaugural season. 

This victory not only seals a place in next season’s Europa League, but also European football for the third year in a row, a first in the club’s history. Another fantastic achievement after an average bottom-half finish in this season’s Premier League table.

Stay tuned for our second European football review 2022/23 as we look over some of Europe’s top domestic leagues and how they played out in the end.

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