Sevilla coach Juande Ramos believes his side's successful defence of their UEFA Cup crown will improve their chances of winning the league and King's Cup to complete a historic season.

"It is a great satisfaction to be champions, especially knowing how difficult such a feat is to achieve," Ramos told a news conference after watching his side edge a nerve-shredding penalty shootout victory over fellow Spaniards Espanyol at Hampden Park.

The victory meant that Sevilla became the first side to make a successful defence of the UEFA Cup since Real Madrid in 1986.

"Winning this trophy is a weight off our shoulders and it will certainly help us approach the league and the Cup with even more optimism. Now let's see if we can bring another trophy to the club."

Sevilla followed up last season's crushing 4-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup with a thrilling victory on Wednesday. Goalkeeper Andres Palop kept out three Espanyol spot-kicks as the holders won 3-1 in the shootout after the final had ended 2-2 after 120 minutes.

They are now on course to complete a remarkable treble.

They have qualified for the final of the King's Cup against Getafe and are in third place in the Primera Liga, just two points behind leaders Real Madrid with four games left to play.

Marvellous year

"It has been a marvellous year for us," said Ramos. "We started by beating Barcelona in the Super Cup and now we've qualified for another one."

Ramos paid tribute to opponents Espanyol, but felt his team had been the better side throughout the game and used their greater experience to maximum effect.

"At no time were we behind in the game," he said. "We had a lot of chances to score a third goal when we were 2-1 up, but they got the equaliser and that made for a very exciting penalty shootout.

"I think Sevilla were superior to Espanyol, though, because we created more chances and had more control. Having said that, Espanyol were great opponents and played very well especially after losing a player in the second half.

"Once you have penalties they are a lottery but I think our experience of having played in the final last year helped us.

"There is no way you can prepare for penalties in training, the pressure and tiredness isn't the same, but we had the experience and the players were brilliant, especially Palop."

Palop heroics

Goalkeeper Andres Palop emerged as Sevilla's hero by saving three penalties in the shootout to give his side victory over Espanyol.

The Andalucians became only the second side to retain the trophy after a pulsating game, played in driving rain, ended 2-2 after 120 minutes, condemning Espanyol to more European final heartbreak - 19 years after they lost the 1988 final on penalties to Bayer Leverkusen.

Palop, whose headed goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16 had kept the holders in the competition, saved spot-kicks from Luis Garcia, Jonatas and Marc Torrejon to give Sevilla victory 3-1 on penalties.

Brazilian winger Adriano Correia had fired the holders ahead on 18 minutes but Espanyol were level 10 minutes later, Albert Riera's shot from just inside the box beating Palop after taking a deflection.

Mali striker Frederic Kanoute, who also scored 12 months ago in the 4-0 rout of Middlesbrough in a one-sided final in Eindhoven, pounced from close range to turn home a Jesus Navas cross at the end of the first extra period.

But after Sevilla had wasted a host of chances to seal the trophy, Brazilian substitute Jonatas let fly from 20 metres and scored with the help of a slight deflection five minutes from the end of extra time.

It was just reward for a battling Espanyol side, reduced to 10 men after 68 minutes when defender Moises Hurtado was sent off for a second yellow, who played their part in a high-octane match.

(China Daily via Agencies?May 18, 2007)