Europa League Final Preview: Liverpool vs Roma in Dublin on June 15
Clubs from England and Italy will meet tomorrow at the Aviva Stadium. Mohamed Salah and Paulo Dybala are the main stars of the upcoming match.
Battle for Dublin: Liverpool and Roma Clash in the Europa League Final on June 15
Main Event
Tomorrow, June 15, 2026, at the legendary Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, the UEFA Europa League final will take place, featuring English side Liverpool and Italian side Roma. This match will be the culmination of the 2025/26 European season for both clubs, each of which has traveled a long and arduous path to the decisive encounter. For the Reds and the Giallorossi, the Europa League final is not just a chance to lift a prestigious trophy but also an opportunity to salvage a season that has been far from ideal in their domestic leagues.
Liverpool finished the English Premier League season in fifth place with 60 points after 38 matches (17 wins, 9 draws, 12 losses). For a club with Merseyside ambitions, this position is a disappointment: the Reds fell behind not only traditional giants like Manchester City and Arsenal but also a surprisingly strong Newcastle, as well as Chelsea and Aston Villa. Liverpool's goal difference was just +10 (63 scored, 53 conceded), indicating defensive issues that plagued the team throughout the campaign.
Roma, on the other hand, ended the Serie A season on a high note. In the final matchday of the Italian championship, Daniele De Rossi's side defeated Verona away 2-0 to secure the bronze medal. Goals came from Donyell Malen and Stephan El Shaarawy, both assisted by Paulo Dybala, who provided two assists. This result allowed Roma to reach 73 points and finish third, ahead of Milan and Como.
Third place in Serie A is hugely significant for the Romans: the club has qualified for the Champions League for the first time in seven years. However, before this European season, Roma competed in Europe's second-tier club tournament, the Europa League, where they managed to reach the final, eliminating giants such as Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Athletic Bilbao along the way. Liverpool's path to the final was no less dramatic: in the quarterfinals, the Reds knocked out last year's finalist, Sevilla, and in the semifinals, they overcame the strong Portuguese side Sporting CP.
Details and Statistics
The final will be held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the home ground of the Irish national football and rugby teams. This modern arena, opened in 2010, has a capacity of 51,700 spectators and is renowned for its unique atmosphere. The stadium cost €410 million to build and has already hosted major football finals: in 2011, it staged the Europa League final between Porto and Braga, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the Portuguese side.
Regarding season statistics, Liverpool played attacking football in European competitions, albeit with defensive lapses. In 12 matches in the 2025/26 Champions League (where the Reds started before dropping into the Europa League), the team scored 24 goals (an average of 2 per match) but conceded 13. Their average possession was 50.84%, and passing accuracy was an impressive 85.92%. The team's top scorer in European competitions was Dominik Szoboszlai with five goals, while the main goalkeeper in the Champions League was Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Roma finished the Serie A season with an impressive goal difference: 59 scored and only 31 conceded, reflecting a well-organized defense. The team's top scorer in the league was Donyell Malen with 14 goals. In the Europa League, the Giallorossi also played pragmatically, relying on counterattacks and set pieces.
Key players in the upcoming final include global football stars. For Liverpool, this is undoubtedly Mohamed Salah—the Egyptian winger, despite his age, remains the leader of the Reds' attack. Salah has already won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019, and his experience in big finals is invaluable. This season, Salah has 16 goals and 12 assists in all competitions. Liverpool's defensive line is led by Virgil van Dijk, while the midfield is orchestrated by Alexander-Arnold, who increasingly plays as a central midfielder.
For Roma, the main attacking force is Argentine Paulo Dybala, whose contract with the club was extended until 2026. "La Joya" is a player capable of deciding a match on his own: his left foot, dribbling, and free-kick ability make him the biggest threat to Alisson's goal. In the match against Verona, it was Dybala's two assists that secured Roma's victory and the bronze medal. Besides the Argentine, Donyell Malen (14 goals in Serie A) and veteran Stephan El Shaarawy, who continues to score important goals off the bench, are also worth highlighting.
Comparative table of the teams in their domestic leagues:
| Indicator | Liverpool (EPL) | Roma (Serie A) |
|---|---|---|
| League position | 5th | 3rd |
| Points | 60 | 73 |
| Goals scored/conceded | 63/53 | 59/31 |
| Top scorer | Hugo Ekitike (11) | Donyell Malen (14) |
| European qualification | Europa League | Champions League |
| Goal difference | +10 | +28 |
Table: Season results for Liverpool and Roma in their domestic leagues 2025/26
Context and Significance
For Liverpool, the Europa League final is not just a match for a trophy but a ticket to the elite and a chance to end a disappointing season on a high note. By finishing fifth in the Premier League, the Reds have only guaranteed a spot in next season's Europa League. However, winning the current Europa League would automatically qualify the team for the group stage of next season's Champions League, bringing in additional tens of millions of euros and, more importantly, reopening access to a tournament where Liverpool is accustomed to being among the favorites.
For Jürgen Klopp (or his successor, if rumors of the German coach's departure are true), this final is a chance to save face. Losing the final after finishing fifth in the EPL would be a disaster, while victory would allow the season to be called "transitional" but with a trophy. The club has already proven its strength in European competitions by reaching the Champions League quarterfinals, where they lost to the eventual finalist. The team needs to show that the defeat to a giant did not break their winning spirit.
Roma approaches the final as a team on the rise. The bronze medal and Champions League qualification are a huge success for a club that was hovering in mid-table just a few years ago. The financial aspect is also important: participation in the Champions League guarantees Roma at least €43.5 million, significantly higher than the €14.7 million they would receive for reaching the Europa League. Winning the Europa League would be the icing on the cake and would allow Roma to start next season with the UEFA Super Cup against the Champions League winner.
For Paulo Dybala, this final is an opportunity to write his name in Roma's history in golden letters. The Argentine, who joined the club as a free agent in 2022, has already become a fan favorite, but a trophy with the Giallorossi would be the culmination of his career in Italy. Like Salah, Dybala is a player who can single-handedly decide the outcome of a final, and their duel on the Aviva pitch promises to be the highlight of the evening.
Interestingly, for both teams, the Europa League final is a test of mental strength. Liverpool is famous for its comebacks in European competitions (recall the 2005 final in Istanbul or the 2019 semifinal against Barcelona), while Roma, under José Mourinho, already won this tournament in 2022, so the Romans have experience in winning finals. Whether it will be spectacular football or a pragmatic battle for results remains to be seen.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
The Europa League final will take place tomorrow, June 15, 2026. The starting whistle will sound at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin at 21:00 local time (23:00 Moscow time). Millions of fans worldwide are expected to watch the match, and over 50,000 spectators will gather in the stands, including numerous fan delegations from England and Italy.
For the head coaches, this match will be a test of tactical flexibility. Liverpool will likely rely on high pressing and ball control, while Roma will focus more on quick transitions from defense to attack and set pieces. The key duel on the pitch will be between Alexander-Arnold (who has increasingly played in midfield this season) and Dybala, who likes to cut inside from the flank and shoot with his left foot.
If Liverpool wins, the club will lift the Europa League for the first time in its history (previously, the team won the UEFA Cup, the predecessor of the Europa League, in 1973, 1976, and 2001). For Roma, this would be their second Europa League title after the triumph in 2022 under Mourinho. Interestingly, the two teams have met before in European competitions: in the 2018 Champions League semifinal, Klopp's Liverpool defeated Roma 7-6 on aggregate (5-2 in the first leg and 2-4 in the second). This historical context adds extra spice to the final.
Live broadcast of the match will be available on the pan-European channel TNT Sports and the streaming platform Discovery+ (for viewers in the UK), as well as on Match! (Russia) and other national broadcasters.
Editorial Prediction
Our editorial team believes that Liverpool approaches the final as a slight favorite, despite the disappointing fifth place in the EPL. Experience in big matches, a star-studded squad, and a hunger for trophies (the Reds' last major trophy was the 2024 EFL Cup) all speak in favor of the English side. Moreover, Mohamed Salah is likely playing his last match for Liverpool (rumors suggest a move to Saudi club Al-Ittihad), and the Egyptian will want to bid farewell to the club on a high note by scoring the decisive goal.
However, Roma is dangerous due to being underestimated. Italian teams are traditionally strong in tactical preparation for one-off matches, and the presence of Pedro (former Barcelona and Chelsea player who has won everything) and the experienced Chris Smalling in defense adds solidity to the Romans. Roma head coach Daniele De Rossi, a protégé of Mourinho, will surely have a surprise for Liverpool, focusing on neutralizing Salah and counterattacking through Dybala and Malen.
A key factor will be the physical condition of the teams. The EPL season was more grueling than Serie A (Liverpool had no winter break, while the Italian championship took a two-week pause in December). Additionally, Liverpool played four more matches this season than Roma due to participation in the FA Cup and EFL Cup. If the game goes into extra time, the Italians may look fresher.
We predict a draw in regular time: 1-1. Goals are likely to come from the team leaders: Salah and Dybala. In extra time, the advantage could shift to Roma if Liverpool fails to convert their chances in the first 90 minutes. However, in a penalty shootout, chances are equal: Liverpool has an excellent goalkeeper (Alisson), while Roma has the reliable Mile Svilar, who saved three penalties in this Europa League campaign. The editorial team predicts a Liverpool win on penalties: 5-4, but any outcome is possible in this undoubtedly evenly matched game.
— Editorial Team
