The biggest game of the season for both Liverpool and Sevilla comes on Wednesday night, as the two sides take to FC Basel’s St. Jakob-Park for the UEFA Europa League final, with the tactical clash finely balanced for managers Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery.

With a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage up for grabs for the victor, both sides will see this as a must-win fixture, having failed to guarantee a place in European competition for 2016/17.

Klopp and Emery are two of Europe’s finest managerial minds, both renowned for their studious tactical approach—the Liverpool manager brought analyst Peter Krawietz with him when he arrived on Merseyside, while Emery hands a USB drive to each player to prepare for each game, explaining their specific roles.

Both sides are relatively free of injury heading into Wednesday’s clash, with the Reds now missing only centre-back Joe Gomez, while Mamadou Sakho is unavailable through suspension, and Sevilla are without Michael Krohn-Dehli, Jose Antonio Reyes, Benoit Tremoulinas and Marco Andreolli.

This sets the tactical matchup as an intriguing one, with key battles to take place across the park—from Nathaniel Clyne’s efforts to stymie Yevhen Konoplyanka, to Timothee Kolodziejczak’s battle to deal with the movement and pressing ability of Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino.

But the standout battle is poised to come in Emre Can’s attempts to dominate Sevilla‘s key playmaker: their No. 19, Ever Banega.

Can has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the Liverpool midfield under Klopp, as he explained in interview with the Telegraph‘s Sam Wallace in the build-up to the Reds’ trip to Basel.

“I learned a lot from [Klopp] and I am very happy at Liverpool. I feel very comfortable. I play that position I want to play. I feel at home in that position,” he said. “I know that I can improve a lot more and I try to improve everything. I think I made a step forward since the manager came.”

His “home” is in a surging, box-to-box role at the heart of Klopp‘s 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 setup, pairing his defensive nous with his rampaging attacking instincts, driven by a relentless energy and keen tactical mind.

Can is arguably the most important player in Klopp‘s system at Liverpool, shown as he returned from an ankle injury to step into midfield and shine throughout their 3-0 semi-final second-leg win at home to Villarreal.

That evening, Can made four successful tackles, four interceptions and three successful dribbles, touching the ball 85 times—each equal to or more than any other player on the pitch—underlining his efficiency in an all-round role.

“Can’s presence allowed [James] Milner to have one of his best games for the club, and also provided good protection for the centre backs,” This is Anfield’s James Nalton enthused after that victory, and it is this latter quality that could prove pivotal as Liverpool push for their ninth major European title.

After a tumultuous time off the field during his five years with Valencia, Banega opted for a cathartic loan spell with Newell’s Old Boys in the last six months of 2013/14, before making the move to Seville, arriving a changed man.

Installed in a key role in Emery’s Sevilla midfield, Banega has established himself as one of Europe’s finest creative talents, somehow escaping the attention that comes with such high-level output.

In terms of guile, finesse and his nimble frame, Banega could be compared to Reds attacking midfielder Adam Lallana, but the Argentinian boasts a more refined edge, and a vision that has seen him installed as Emery’s primary playmaker.

This season, Banega has averaged more key passes per 90 league minutes (2.3) than all but one Liverpool player to make over 10 appearances, with James Milner (2.4) serving as Klopp‘s most efficient creator.

Ahead of the summer transfer window, Banega has been linked with a move to Inter Milan, with the Serie A side’s manager Roberto Mancini describing the 27-year-old as “top quality, skilful and experienced,” in a press conference in April, per FourFourTwo.

Lithe, quick-minded and a supremely gifted technical talent, Banega will pull the strings in Emery’s 4-2-3-1 at St. Jakob-Park, looking to thread passes through for the likes of Konoplyanka, Vitolo and star striker Kevin Gameiro.

But with the midfielder lining up directly ahead of Can in the midfield on Wednesday night, who will triumph?

Can has the physical edge, standing at 6’1″ compared to Banega‘s 5’9″, and should be able to muscle the Sevilla man off the ball with ease, having spent the campaign dominating more imposing adversaries.

When on top form, Can is able to preside over a midfield landscape alone, as he proved against Villarreal at Anfield, allowing Milner to push forward from his position in Klopp‘s two-man engine room, breaking up play and moving the ball into attack quickly.

If the German is in a similar mood on Wednesday night, he will be difficult to stop, but Banega arguably boasts the mental advantage, and given his experience at five years Can’s senior, he won’t be lining up against an unknown quantity.

Given the disparity in refereeing leniency when making the step from the Premier League to the Europa League, Banega may be given more protection than his counterparts in the English top flight.

This puts the onus on Can to adapt his game, utilising his tactical intelligence over his physicality.

It could prove a landmark performance from Klopp‘s key 22-year-old, as if he is able to best Banega, showcasing his all-round quality and adding a polished sheen to his bullish midfield play, he could be the man that seals Europa League glory for the Reds.

 

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

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