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UEFA CUP FINAL - THE NEUTRAL PREVIEW
By David John of Betting Zone
For the fourth time in the last four years, there will be a new name on the UEFA Cup as Middlesbrough and Sevilla clash in Eindhoven on Wednesday night.
A victory for the Teessiders would give Steve McClaren the perfect send off from his final match in charge as he links up with the England squad for the World Cup - and beyond.
And the amazing run they have enjoyed in the competition perhaps suggests their name is on the trophy.
Amazing seems to be a fitting description.
Twice they have produced rip-roaring displays at the Riverside to overcome considerable deficits against FC Basle and Steaua Bucharest in the last eight and semi-finals.
A stubborn refusal to accept defeat and Massimo Maccarone's exquisite sense of timing twice booked an unlikely passage suggesting that the footballing Gods might be with them.
Having rested his big guns for the final game of the Premiership on Sunday, McClaren's prayers looked to have been answered again with the likes of Mark Schwarzer, Mark Viduka, Gareth Southgate and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink all fit for action.
Could the momentum be harnessed for one last push for the prize?
If it is, they are going to have to break down a miserly Sevilla defence marshalled by the uncompromising Javi Navarro.
The Javi Navarro that got a five-match ban last season for knocking out Mallorca's Juan Arango and then claimed "I don't think I hurt anyone".
Sevilla's defence is currently the fourth best in La Liga while they have conceded just five times in their last 10 UEFA Cup fixtures on the run to the final.
That does not mean they will be playing it cagey though as coach Juande Ramos has insisted he will keep going with his attack-minded tactics.
And Saturday's 2-0 win in the league at Malaga will have been the ideal tonic as it guarantees UEFA Cup football next season regardless of the outcome here.
It also saw Sevilla's top scorer Freddie Kanoute on the pitch for the last 20 minutes and although not quite 100 percent, reckons he will be ready to play a full part in the final after a calf injury.
He has already bagged five UEFA Cup goals this sason so a contribution from him would be very much welcomed by the Spaniards.
It is they who are favourites for the silverware.
Perhaps the bookies finally think that Boro's thrilling exploits are set to come to an end - the law of averages says another last-minute attempt sooner or later has to miss the target.
For those interested in theatre, totesport offer 14/1 for McClaren's men to snatch a win having trailed in the game.
But these two look well matched ahead of locking horns and a long evening could be in store.
A draw at 90 minutes is a reasonable shout so invest on Total Bet's 21/10.
What dramatics occur after is just about anyone's guess.
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