Sevilla continue Spanish rule

MADRID: Sevilla’s rout of Liverpool in the Europa League final is a new sign of which country rules the continent’s football and a powerful warning to Barcelona ahead of their kings of Spain clash.

Coke’s double in the 3-1 win in Basel highlighted the value of the Spanish system of turning home talent into title winners. And Sevilla’s record five titles in the UEFA Cup and Europa League have shown them to be masters of the art.

Real and Atletico Madrid will dispute the Champions League next week in a showdown that highlights how Spanish clubs can also buy world class talent successfully to dominate European football.

The Europa League “belongs” to Sevilla, AS sports daily wrote Thursday after the stunning second half comeback spurred the triumph.

Losing 1-0 at half-time, Coke’s double and a third from Kevin Gameiro saw Sevilla to a win that left Liverpool on their knees.

“The Andalusian team steamrollered the English in an unforgettable second half,” said Mundo Deportivo.

The win again left English Premier League clubs wondering how to turn their wealth into European success.

AS editor Alfredo Relano said that Sevilla have a “magnificent structure with a model sporting system and an extraordinary business plan, buying well and selling even better”.

Spanish clubs have bought and nurtured outstanding talent from Portugal, South America and other smaller football nations. But they have a core of players that have come through their own academies.

Sevilla bought their matchwinner Coke for a reported 2.5 million euros from Rayo Vallecano in 2011.