Sevilla wins the Uefa Cup again...

The match demonstrated the Spanish philosophy of attacking football. We didn’t see much possession play, no tick tock passing across the back four. It was back to front quickly. Both teams look to attack immediately when in possession of the ball. No Chelsea vs Liverpool tactical battle here. It was down who could attack more effectively. In the end, the slick passing and flair of Brazil influenced-Sevilla prevailed at the end.

Andrés Palop was the hero of the day when he saved three shoot-out penalties as Sevilla FC became the second side to retain the UEFA Cup. After losing their lead twice, they finally defeated ten-man RCD Espanyol 3-1 on spot-kicks after a gripping contest in Glasgow.

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos sent out an experienced team with nine players that were involved in last year's final victory and initially it seemed that experience played its part as the holders began the brighter. Espanyol then found their feet and started to pose problems of their own, as David García sent in a low cross that was cleverly dummied by Luis García for captain Raúl Tamudo to toe poke a shot that was gathered comfortably for the first chance of the game.

Moisés was then given space outside the Sevilla penalty area and hit a low shot that forced the Sevilla goalkeeper to dive to his right and palm the ball behind. Seconds later a first goal arrived - when Palop caught the resulting corner and swiftly freed Adriano down the left with a searching throw. The Brazilian skipped past the lunge of David García and cut in towards goal before beating Gorka Iraizoz.

Sevilla were in control after the goal and another foray down the left flank saw left-back Ivica Dragutinović's low cross flashed across the face of goal. The equaliser came against the run of play. Riera skipped past Daniel Alves on the corner of the penalty area and, produced a shot which took a deflection off the Sevilla right-back and looped beyond Palop's reach.

The second period picked up where the first had left off and both goalkeepers called into action. Palop was the more severely tested, first palming over Tamudo's shot and then denying Riera a spectacular second goal, clawing over the midfielder's thunderous angled volley with the help of the crossbar.

Espanyol then lost Moisés to a red card in the 60th minute and Sevilla began to press back their opponents as they sought to exploit their numerical advantage but Espanyol survived to take the game into extra time. The Espanyol’s defence remained resolute right up to the end of 90 mins. Extra time awaits.

The extra time started with Espanyol getting seiged by Sevilla. The second goal came before the break in extra time when Sevilla’s slick passing finally yielded tangible reward with the final kick of the first extra period as Kanouté flicked in Jesús Navas's right-wing cross from close range. That looked to have finally ended Espanyol's challenge but somehow Ernesto Valverde’s men roused themselves yet again.

With five minutes left in extra time, substitute Jônatas advanced to beat Palop with a strike that deflected off Christian Poulsen to take the final to its dramatic conclusion which is the penalty shoot outs.

In the penalty shootout, Kanouté, Dragutinović and Antonio Puerta all scored in the shoot-out for the winners. Alves blazed Sevilla's third penalty over the bar but it mattered little as Palop saved three times. Walter Pandiani was the only Espanyol player to find the net.

This is the 2nd piece of silverware for Juande Ramos’s side. They earlier won the Spanish Super Cup after defeating Barcelona and now adds the largest trophy in European football, the Uefa Cup, to its trophy cabinet. Sevilla are still in the hunt for a qaudruple with a Spanish Cup final coming up against Getafe. They are also still in the race for the Primera title.