Reigning champions Sevilla will be looking to fire the first shot in their bid for a hat trick of titles this season when they take on Espanyol in the UEFA Cup final in Glasgow today.
The winner of the first all-Spanish final will become the third victor from the country in the last four seasons, following in the footsteps of Valencia in 2004 and Sevilla 12 months ago.
Sevilla, who are also in contention for their first Spanish league title in more than 50 years and who have reached the Spanish Cup final as well, will inevitably start as favorites despite the worries of coach Juande Ramos.
PHOTO: AP
The Periquitos -- The Budgerigars in English -- as Espanyol are nicknamed, are languishing down in 12th place in the Spanish first division so winning the UEFA Cup provides their only means of playing in Europe next season.
"Espanyol have always been a uncomfortable rival for us. There's also a bit of history between me and them because I used to coach there," said Ramos on Monday, hinting that several Espanyol players have axes to grind with him.
"In the two years that I have been the coach at Sevilla, the only time we have beaten Espanyol was just a few weeks ago so I don't want to have the mantle of favorites hanging around our necks," added Ramos.
Nevertheless, despite Ramos' caution, most bookmakers are heavily tipping the Andalucians to become only the second club to win back-to-back UEFA Cup titles after the successes of Spanish giants Real Madrid in 1985 and 1986.
However, Espanyol have a number of good reasons that could lead them to upset the form book.
Espanyol have also shown that they have acquired the appetite for the big occasion even if they cannot compete with the leading Spanish clubs on a weekly basis in La Liga.
They have won the Spanish Cup last year and beat Benfica and Werder Bremen in the last two rounds of this season's UEFA Cup to become worthy finalists in Glasgow.
There is also the Barcelona factor.
Traditionally, Espanyol have lived in the shadow of their giant local rivals but this year offers an almost unique opportunity for them to claim bragging rights in Spain's second city.
With the reigning Spanish champions perhaps destined to end the season without anything to their name, Espanyol have a chance to lift a trophy in a year when Barca go empty-handed for the first time since 1940.
"In every respect this is the game of our lives," said Espanyol winger Francisco Rufete, who has one UEFA Cup winners' medal to his name after being part of the Valencia team that triumphed three years ago.
Unlike Sevilla, Espanyol have never won a European title but they did reach the UEFA Cup final in 1988 only to lose on penalties to Bayer Leverkusen.
Current coach Ernesto Valverde was a member of the Espanyol team was defeated in the most agonizing fashion 19 years ago.
"I don't want to see the trophy slip out of our grasp this time," he said.
Sevilla will be missing only their suspended French central defender Julien Escude, although their Spanish international defender Javi Navarro is recovering from a heavy cold.
There is also a question mark over the true fitness of their Malian striker Fredi Kanoute, who has been carrying a chronic groin strain in recent months.
Ivan De La Pena and Raul Tamudo were deliberately left out of the Espanyol squad that went down 4-3 at Real Madrid on Saturday but, fully rested, the Spanish internationals should start against Sevilla.
Tamudo should partner Walter Pandiani up front with the Uruguayan having boosted his confidence with a memorable first half hat-trick, albeit in losing cause, against Real.
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