2013 UEFA Europa League final

The 2013 UEFA Europa League Final was the final match of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League, the 42nd season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 4th season since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League. The match was played at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 15 May 2013,[6] between Portuguese side Benfica and English side Chelsea. Chelsea won 2–1 to secure their first title in this competition.[7]

2013 UEFA Europa League Final
Match programme cover
Event2012–13 UEFA Europa League
Benfica Chelsea
Portugal England
1 2
Date15 May 2013[1]
VenueAmsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
Man of the MatchBranislav Ivanović (Chelsea)[2]
RefereeBjörn Kuipers (Netherlands)[3]
Attendance46,163[4]
WeatherPartly cloudy
13 °C (55 °F)
54% humidity[5]

Chelsea were the first UEFA Champions League title holders to play in the following season's Europa League, after becoming the first Champions League holders to be eliminated in the group stage. With this triumph, they became the first Champions League holders to win the Europa League, since the 2013 Champions League Final had not been played then. Chelsea also became the fourth club, and first in England, to win all three major UEFA club titles, having won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 and 1998, and still held the Champions League title won for the first time the previous year.[8] Chelsea were also the first team since Manchester United in the 1991 European Cup Winners' Cup Final to win a major European final without making any substitutions.[9]

As a result of winning this competition, Chelsea secured a place in the 2013 UEFA Super Cup against the winners of the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League, Bayern Munich.

Venue
The match was played at Amsterdam Arena in front of more than 46,000 spectators.

The Amsterdam Arena was announced as the venue of the 2013 UEFA Europa League final on 16 June 2011.[10] The home stadium of Ajax since 1996, it staged the 1998 UEFA Champions League Final, where Real Madrid beat Juventus 1–0 for their seventh title, and was also one of the UEFA Euro 2000 venues, hosting five games including a semi-final.[11]

The previous home for Ajax's European matches, the Olympisch Stadion, also played host to European finals. One-legged finals include the 1962 European Cup Final, where Benfica defeated Real Madrid 5–3, and the 1977 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, where Anderlecht were beaten 2–0 by Hamburg. It also hosted the second legs of the 1981 UEFA Cup Final, between AZ '67 and Ipswich Town, and of the 1992 UEFA Cup Final, between Ajax and Torino.[12]

Background

Benfica qualified for their ninth European final, the first in 23 years since their 1–0 loss to A.C. Milan in the 1990 European Cup Final. Previous appearances include back-to-back victories in the 1961 and 1962 European Cup finals (3–2 over Barcelona and 5–3 over Real Madrid, respectively) and unsuccessful presences in five other European Cup finals – 1963 (1–2 to Milan), 1965 (0–1 to Inter Milan), 1968 (1–4 to Manchester United), 1988 (0–0, 5–6 on penalties to PSV) and 1990 (0–1 to Milan) – and one UEFA Cup final in 1983 (1–2 on aggregate to Anderlecht).[13]

Before this season, Chelsea had never reached a final of the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League. They previously appeared in two UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1971 (2–1 win over Real Madrid) and 1998 (1–0 win over Stuttgart), and two UEFA Champions League finals in 2008 (1–1, lost 5–6 on penalties to Manchester United) and 2012 (1–1, won 4–3 on penalties over Bayern Munich).[14]

The only previous meeting between Benfica and Chelsea in European competition was in the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, which the English won 3–1 on aggregate (1–0 in Lisbon and 2–1 in London) en route to the title.[15] Both Benfica and Chelsea finished third in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League group stage, and entered the 2012–13 Europa League in the round of 32.[16] It was the fourth time in the tournament's history that both finalists featured in the Champions League group stage earlier in the season, after 2000, 2002 and 2009.

Road to the final
Further information: 2012–13 UEFA Europa League

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first.

Portugal Benfica Round England Chelsea
Opponent Result Champions League
Group stage		 Opponent Result
Scotland Celtic 0–0 (A) Matchday 1 Italy Juventus 2–2 (H)
Spain Barcelona 0–2 (H) Matchday 2 Denmark Nordsjælland 4–0 (A)
Russia Spartak Moscow 1–2 (A) Matchday 3 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 1–2 (A)
Russia Spartak Moscow 2–0 (H) Matchday 4 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 3–2 (H)
Scotland Celtic 2–1 (H) Matchday 5 Italy Juventus 0–3 (A)
Spain Barcelona 0–0 (A) Matchday 6 Denmark Nordsjælland 6–1 (H)
Champions League Group G third place

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Spain Barcelona 6 4 1 1 11 5 +6 13 Advance to knockout phase
2 Scotland Celtic 6 3 1 2 9 8 +1 10
3 Portugal Benfica 6 2 2 2 5 5 0 8 Transfer to Europa League
4 Russia Spartak Moscow 6 1 0 5 7 14 −7 3
Source: Soccerway
 Final standings Champions League Group E third place

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Italy Juventus 6 3 3 0 12 4 +8 12 Advance to knockout phase
2 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 6 3 1 2 12 8 +4 10[lower-alpha 1]
3 England Chelsea 6 3 1 2 16 10 +6 10[lower-alpha 1] Transfer to Europa League
4 Denmark Nordsjælland 6 0 1 5 4 22 −18 1
Source: Soccerway
Notes:
  1. Tiebreakers: Shakhtar Donetsk are ranked ahead of Chelsea on head-to-head away goals
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Europa League
Knockout phase		 Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
Germany Bayer Leverkusen 3–1 1–0 (A) 2–1 (H) Round of 32 Czech Republic Sparta Prague 2–1 1–0 (A) 1–1 (H)
France Bordeaux 4–2 1–0 (H) 3–2 (A) Round of 16 Romania Steaua București 3–2 0–1 (A) 3–1 (H)
England Newcastle United 4–2 3–1 (H) 1–1 (A) Quarter-finals Russia Rubin Kazan 5–4 3–1 (H) 2–3 (A)
Turkey Fenerbahçe 3–2 0–1 (A) 3–1 (H) Semi-finals Switzerland Basel 5–2 2–1 (A) 3–1 (H)

Pre-match

Ambassador

Former Dutch international Patrick Kluivert, who won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax, was appointed as the official ambassador for the final.[17]

Officials

On 13 May 2013, Dutch referee Björn Kuipers was appointed to the final. He was joined by fellow Dutch officials Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra as assistant referees, Pol van Boekel and Richard Liesveld as additional assistant referees, Berry Simons as reserve assistant referee, and German official Felix Brych as fourth official.[3]

Ticketing

The international ticket sales phase for the general public ran from 3 December 2012 to 18 January 2013. Tickets were available in four price categories: €135, €100, €70, and €45.[18] Each finalist club was allocated 9,800 tickets.[19]

Match

Team selection

Chelsea's Eden Hazard was ruled out of the final after not recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in Chelsea's 2–1 Premier League victory against Aston Villa on 11 May.[20] Chelsea captain and centre-back John Terry was also absent through injury. Three players faced their former clubs: Benfica's Nemanja Matić, who was transferred from Chelsea, and Chelsea's David Luiz and Ramires, who were transferred from Benfica.[21]

Summary

Fernando Torres put Chelsea ahead midway through the second half rounding the goalkeeper and clipping in after being put clean in on goal by Juan Mata. Óscar Cardozo equalised with a penalty eight minutes later awarded after Eduardo Salvio's header struck César Azpilicueta's hand. Branislav Ivanović scored in the final minute of stoppage time with a header into the far corner from a Mata corner from the right to clinch a 2–1 win for Chelsea and with it their first Europa League title.[7]

Details
Benfica Portugal1–2England Chelsea
Cardozo 68' (pen.) Report Torres 60'
Ivanović 90+3'
Attendance: 46,163[4]
Benfica[5]
Chelsea[5]
GK1Brazil Artur
RB34Portugal André Almeida
CB4Brazil Luisão (c)Yellow card 61'
CB24Argentina Ezequiel GarayYellow card 45+1'downward-facing red arrow 78'
LB25Paraguay Lorenzo Melgarejodownward-facing red arrow 66'
RM35Argentina Enzo Pérez
CM21Serbia Nemanja Matić
LM19Spain Rodrigodownward-facing red arrow 66'
RF20Argentina Nicolás Gaitán
CF7Paraguay Óscar Cardozo
LF18Argentina Eduardo Salvio
Substitutes:
GK13Portugal Paulo Lopes
DF33Brazil Jardelupward-facing green arrow 78'
MF10Argentina Pablo Aimar
MF15Netherlands Ola Johnupward-facing green arrow 66'
MF23Uruguay Jonathan Urretaviscaya
MF89Portugal André Gomes
FW11Brazil Limaupward-facing green arrow 66'
Manager:
Portugal Jorge Jesus
GK1Czech Republic Petr Čech
RB28Spain César Azpilicueta
CB2Serbia Branislav Ivanović
CB24England Gary Cahill
LB3England Ashley Cole
CM8England Frank Lampard (c)
CM4Brazil David Luiz
RW7Brazil Ramires
AM10Spain Juan Mata
LW11Brazil OscarYellow card 14'
CF9Spain Fernando Torres
Substitutes:
GK22England Ross Turnbull
DF19Portugal Paulo Ferreira
MF12Nigeria Mikel John Obi
MF21Germany Marko Marin
MF30Israel Yossi Benayoun
DF57Netherlands Nathan Aké
FW13Nigeria Victor Moses
Interim manager:
Spain Rafael Benítez

Man of the Match:
Branislav Ivanović (Chelsea)[2]

Assistant referees:[3]
Sander van Roekel (Netherlands)
Erwin Zeinstra (Netherlands)
Fourth official:[3]
Felix Brych (Germany)
Additional assistant referees:[3]
Pol van Boekel (Netherlands)
Richard Liesveld (Netherlands)
Reserve assistant referee:[3]
Berry Simons (Netherlands)

Match rules[22]

  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Seven named substitutes, of which three may be used

Statistics

See also

References
  1. "Amsterdam the Europa League aim". UEFA. 22 June 2012.
  2. Atkin, John (15 May 2013). "Ivanović heads Chelsea to Europa League glory". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  3. "Kuipers to referee UEFA Europa League final". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  4. "Full-time report" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  5. "Tactical lineups" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  6. "Wembley, Amsterdam ArenA, Prague get 2013 finals". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 18 June 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  7. "Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic climbs highest to sink Benfica". Guardian UK. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  8. "Chelsea join illustrious trio". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 May 2013.
  9. Oliver Kay (16 May 2013). "Torres far from feeling blue as he delivers epic performance [Champions in numbers (statistics box)]". The Times No. 70886. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  10. "Amsterdam ArenA to stage 2013 Europa League final". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  11. "Amsterdam ArenA". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  12. "Amsterdam's historic finals". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  13. "Benfica's European final pedigree". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  14. "Chelsea's European final pedigree". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  15. "Benfica meet Chelsea in Europa League final". UEFA.com. 2 May 2013.
  16. "Amsterdam denouement for Benfica and Chelsea". UEFA.com. 7 May 2013.
  17. "Ambassador: Patrick Kluivert". UEFA.com.
  18. "Ticketing information". UEFA.com.
  19. "Europa League final ticket allocation 'beggars belief' – Chelsea Supporters' Trust chair". goal.com. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013.
  20. "Hazard ruled out of UEFA Europa League final". UEFA.com. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  21. "Match Press Kit" (PDF). UEFA.com. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  22. "Regulations of the UEFA Europa League 2012/13" (PDF). Nyon: UEFA. March 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  23. "Team statistics: Full time" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
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