Espanyol – Sevilla

Welcome to this UEFA Cup final live commentary. Sevilla are looking to become only the second club to retain the trophy when they face fellow Spaniards Espanyol at rain-soaked Hampden Park.

Sevilla are third in La Liga and in the final of the Spanish Cup which make them favourites against an Espanyol side who travelled to Glasgow looking for their first European trophy.

Sevilla manager Juande Ramos, as expected, starts with former Tottenham and West Ham star Frederic Kanoute and Luis Fabiano - who scored against Middlesbrough in the final last year - in attack.

Coach Ernesto Valverde sprung a surprise by leaving Walter Pandiani, who scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid last weekend, on the bench - his place taken by Raul Tamudo.

We're minutes from kick-off and the players engage in the customary back-slapping and niceties before the referee gets us under way.

Here we go!

This all-Spanish final features 14 Spaniards with 10 of them in the Espanyol side.

First test for Palop in the Sevilla goal as he is forced to punch clear Moises Hurtado's swirling free-kick.

The heavy rain has ceased and the clouds have parted. We could well have a clear evening for the game.

Lovely skill from Maresca fashions a shooting chance for the midfielder. He fires it goalwards and crashes his effort into the side netting. Decent chance for Sevilla.

Lively opening five minutes with both sides looking to get on the front foot and attack.

Fredi Kanoute wastes a glorious chance for Sevilla. A pin-point cross down the left flank gives the former Tottenham striker a free header on goal, but he fails to keep it down and it spoons off his forehead for a goal-kick.

Sevilla may have had the best chances so far, but Espanyol are enjoying decent spells on the ball. Cracking start for the neutral.

The first 10 minutes have flown by and both sides can be pleased with the way they've started, wonderful atmosphere inside Hamden Park too.

First yellow card of the match is dished out to Espanyol's Moises Hurtado. It was a reckless challenge and it's not the first he's committed thus far.

Fine work down the right by Riera and David Garcia presents a half chance for Tamudo who toes his effort goalward. It's a easy save for Palop, but Espanyol's best move of the match.

Espanyol starting to find their feet now and are spraying the ball around neatly among themselves. Both wingers are getting forward well while Ivan de la Pena is looking to thread the strikers through.

Thunderous strike by Hurtado forces Palop into a fine low save. He does well to hold on to the strike that came from all of 25 yards.

GOAL: ESPANYOL 0-1 SEVILLA

The holders find the breakthrough after a move that started from the goalkeeper's throw out. Palop found ADRIANO midway inside the Espanyol half and Adriano kept his cool and slotted home. Neat finish from a fine counter attack.

Adriano was nursing a shoulder and thigh injury, but he showed no pain when ghosting past the Espanyol defence and giving his side a crucial lead.

Espanyol don't look too rocked by the goal. They continue to come forward using Garcia and Rufete to create the chances.

It's end-to-end at the moment with a real lively pace about it. Both teams look more than capable of finding the net.

GOAL: ESPANYOL 1-1 SEVILLA

Wonderful goal by ALBERT RIERA. He cut in from the right and as the Sevilla defence backed off, he smashed an effort that deflected into the corner via the fingertip of Palop.

What a wonderful game we have now. Both teams are playing some breathtaking football and look dangerous on every break.

The Espanyol fans find their voices as their team begin to take control. They're outsining their opponents in red.

Tamudo tries his luck from a tight angle, but Navarro's experience forces the striker wide and makes the chance almost impossible to hit the target from.

Fredi Kanoute is being closely followed all over the park by his marker. He's hardly had an inch of room in which to spring an attack and it's starting to frustrate him.

De la Pena is starting to impose himself on the game by linking well with Tamudo and Rufete down the Espanyol right flank.

Almost a freak goal for Sevilla as Puerta gets forward down the left and fires in a shot that taks a wicked deflection off Jarque and bounces behind for a corner.

The corner comes to nothing as Espanyol clear. The pendulum is starting to swing back in Sevilla's favour now.

Fiesty drive from Tamudo makes Palop dive down low to his left and make a decent save. The greasy surface made it difficult for the keeper, but it didn't do enough to beat the stopper.

Daniel Alves has a go from a long-range free-kick, but he blasts over the bar from fully 40 yards and trudges back to his right-back spot.

Not long to go until the break and I for one don't want the half to end. It's been enthralling and could go either way.

Another lightning quick move from Sevilla down their left flank. Adriano whips in a cross and Fabiano just fails to keep his volley down.

HALF-TIME: ESPANYOL 1-1 SEVILLA

What a tremendous half of football! These two Spanish sides have thus far laid on a treat of a final. At 1-1 the tie is delicately poised and we'll want more of the same in the second half, please!

The players are back out and we're ready for the second half. There's a change for Sevilla as Jesus Navas comes on for Enzo Maresca.

The second half gets under way.

Espanyol fly out of the blocks and only Navarro's last-ditch blok denies Riera getting a clean strike on goal. Just the start we wanted.

Tamudo is next to break through the Sevilla defence with a burst down the left, but his shot creeps wide of Palop's right post.

Both teams enjoying encouraging spells on the ball. The final ball is all that is preventing the teams from moving ahead.

Sevilla's patient build-up is again incisive and dangerous. They're starting to go up a gear now after a slow start to the half.

Kanoute gets his first sight at goal. He didn't get the best of contact on it and Iraizoz gathers at the second attempt.

Straight down the other end and David Garcia cracks a fierce drive that Palop does well to plam over the bar. De la Pena could have hit it himself but selfishly squared to Garcia in the box who failed to slot it past the keeper.

The pace has certainly picked up again and Espanyol throw on the competition's top-scorer Walter Pandiani.

Sensational drive from Riera comes within inches of giving Espanyol the lead. He smashed a half-volley from outside the box and Palop makes an incredible save on to the bar to deny the striker.

Espanyol are staying with Sevilla who had threatened to up the pace. It's as lively as the first half and with just as many chances.

Nasty challenge from Fabiano on the goalkeeper. The Sevilla striker gets his name taken in a rare stoppage to the game.

Another change for Sevilla and Fabiano angrily trudges off to be replaced by Kerzhakov.

Kanoute is struggling to make an impact on the game now as Espanyol tighten up their marking on him even further. He's become more than a little frustrated at his lack of chances and Sevilla may need to change things to give him more space.

RED CARD: MOISES HURTADO

That could be curtains for Espanyol as their solid midfielder departs after picking up his second yellow. He can't have too many complaints, mind. He slid in from behind and got none of the ball.

Espanyol are forced to reshuffle and look dis-jointed at the moment. Tamudo looks completely isolated with Pandiani dropping deep.

The Espanyol crisis means the skipper Tamudo is sacrificed by Jesus LaCruz. He's distraught and Espanyol need to regroup quickly.

The Sevilla supports sense a turnaround in fortunes now. They've been on the back foot for much of this second half but will feel with the extra man that they can press Espanyol back.

Sevilla bring on Renato in the hope of stretching Espanyol. Goalscorer Adriano is the man to depart.

The rain begins to pour down on Hamden Park and Sevilla look to turn the screw. The red shirts pour forward in search of what could be the decisive goal.

Wonderful flowing move from Sevilla ends with Kerzahkov firing over from close range. Renato had the chance to shoot and chose the wrong option in playing in Kerzahkov who couldn't keep his effort down.

Renato has a go from just outside the area and the deflection off Torrejon's back almost flies into his own net.

From the corner, Navarro's free header flies straight into the keeper's hands. A yard either side of Iraizoz would have found the net no question.

Kanoute leaves Zabaleta on the deck after an ugly tackle on the defender. It's been a frustrating night for the striker and it came to the fore in that challenge.

Goal scramble in the Espanyol box almost ends up in the net. Kanoute's close-range header is well saved by Iraizoz and Kerzahkov blasts the rebound over.

Espanyol will settle for extra-time at the moment. Sevilla are laying siege on their goal and the holders want this game tied up.

Change for Espanyol as Jonatas comes into the fray in place of the excellent Ivan de la Pena.

Navas wastes another Sevilla break by firing a tame effort wide with his weaker right foot. Time almost up. Extra-time looms.

Espanyol are hanging on for their lives and Renato strikes a volley straight at the keeper in what will be the last attack of the game.

FULL-TIME: ESPANYOL 1-1 SEVILLA - Extra time follows

Espanyol have hung on admirably since Moises Hurtado's dismissal and will take Sevilla into extra time. It's been a fantastic encounter between two highly talented sides and I can't wait for more.

We're back under way for the first half of the extra period.

Sevilla will want to wrap this one up before penalties. They've got an extra man remember and will want to press that advantage home before the lottery of penalties.

The slickness of the early part of the game has vanished now and Espanyol are trying to slow the game down as much as possible to disrupt Sevilla.

Plenty of ambition from Sevilla but the final ball is still lacking and it will need something special to break down this stubborn resistance.

The ball sits up nicely for Kanoute to have a crack from outside the box. He can't keep his half-volley down though and it sails over the bar.

Navas fizzes in a teasing cross right across the box and not one red shirt is on hand to tap home.

Kerzahkov has failed to impress since replacing Fabiano. Another poor touch enables Espanyol to recover and clear a potential chance.

It's all gone a bit too aerial for my liking. I guess neither side want to take too many chances at the back at this critical stage and it's meaning the quality is slowly ebbing away from the game.

Heroic challenge from Luis Garcia prevents Puerta's effort from reaching it's target - the back of the net. It was from the edge of the box and was superbly blocked.

GOAL: ESPANYOL 1-2 SEVILLA

FREDI KANOUTE ghosts in at the near post to tuck away Navas' rolled pass. He's not done much else tonight, but that goal could be enough to claim the title for the second year in a row.

HALF-TIME: ESPANYOL 1-2 SEVILLA

A quick turnaround ensues and Espanyol have a mountain to climb if they are to claw something out of this final.

Play resumes as Sevilla close in on the UEFA Cup trophy.

Sevilla fans are in full voice now. Their side are not far away from victory, unless Espanyol can snatch an unlikely winner.

It's all Sevilla still. There's a few weary legs in the Espanyol side and Sevilla are making them work for every ball.

Sevilla come forward again and Renato, Kerzahkov and Kanoute combine to waste a fine chance. They over-played it and Espanyol recover to clear.

Renato this time finds himself in acres of space in the left hand edge of the box, but a lack of composure in front of goal allows Iraizoz time to get across and block off his drive with his legs.

GOAL: ESPANYOL 2-2 SEVILLA

JONTAS crashes a dipping drive from 25 yards to give Espanyol an incredible equaliser. It was an outstanding effort and Espanyol have somehow clawed themselves back into this final.

Kanoute wastes another Sevilla chance as he hooks his shot over the bar from close range. It was another guilt-edged chance that has gone begging and Sevilla only have themselves to blame.

FULL-TIME: ESPANYOL 2-2 SEVILLA

Two hours of pulsating football cannot separate the sides so penalties will have to. An incredible finish to an incredible game. Sevilla will be deflated and Espanyol will now fancy their chances of scooping the cup.

So we have penalties. They'll be kicking into the end where the Espanyol fans are seated.

Penalties: ESPANYOL 0-1 SEVILLA: Kanoute

Penalties: ESPANYOL 0-1 SEVILLA: Luis Garcia miss

Penalties: ESPANYOL 0-2 SEVILLA: Dragutinovic

Penalties: ESPANYOL 1-2 SEVILLA: Pandiani

Penalties: ESPANYOL 1-2 SEVILLA: Daniel Alves miss

Penalties: ESPANYOL 1-2 SEVILLA: Jonatas miss

Penalties: ESPANYOL 1-3 SEVILLA: Puerta

Penalties: ESPANYOL 1-3 SEVILLA: David Garcia miss

SEVILLA WIN 3-1 ON PENALTIES

Sevilla are the UEFA Cup champions for the second successive season. It was the most incredible of finals with Sevilla keeping their nerve at the shoot-out to deny a plucky 10-man Espanyol side who looked to be out of it in extra-time.