Europa League 2026: Third Place Match & Final Recap
The 2026 Europa League came to a thrilling conclusion with two entertaining matches played on two different continents. Desna capped off their historic tournament run by claiming third place, while Real Betis completed an incredible knockout stage campaign by lifting their first Europa League title of the season after defeating Hannover 96 in a dramatic final.
Third Place Match
June 1st, 2026 – Maracanã, Brazil
- Desna (UKR) 3-2 Inter (ITA)
Desna's magical Europa League journey ended on a high note as they defeated Inter in an entertaining five-goal thriller to claim third place.
After narrowly missing out on the final following their semifinal defeat to Hannover 96, the Ukrainian side showed tremendous character by bouncing back against one of Italy's most prestigious clubs. Desna's attacking play, which had been one of the stories of the tournament, was once again on full display as they found the back of the net three times.
Inter will undoubtedly be disappointed to leave the competition empty-handed after defeating Real Betis in the first leg of their semifinal before suffering a historic collapse in Spain. Nevertheless, reaching the final four remains an impressive achievement for the Italian giants.
For Desna, a third-place finish represents one of the greatest European campaigns in club history. Their victories over Schalke and their impressive performances throughout the knockout rounds established them as one of the tournament's surprise packages.
Europa League Final
June 3rd, 2026 – Tokyo Dome, Japan
- Hannover 96 (GER) 2-3 Real Betis (SPA)
Champions: Real Betis (SPA)
The Europa League Final delivered exactly what fans hoped for—a closely contested battle between two deserving finalists. In the end, Real Betis completed their remarkable tournament run with a 3-2 victory over Hannover 96 to be crowned Europa League champions.
Hannover 96 entered the final following dominant performances against Arminia and Desna and looked poised to bring the trophy back to Germany. However, Real Betis once again demonstrated why they had become the tournament's most dangerous knockout side.
After surviving a dramatic quarterfinal against Bayer Leverkusen and producing an unforgettable 5-0 second-leg comeback against Inter in the semifinals, Betis saved one final masterpiece for the championship match. The Spanish club displayed both composure and clinical finishing to edge Hannover in a tightly fought contest.
Despite Hannover scoring twice, Real Betis continually found answers when it mattered most, eventually claiming the decisive third goal that secured European glory.
Tournament Summary
| Position | Club | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Champions | Real Betis | Spain |
| Runner-Up | Hannover 96 | Germany |
| Third Place | Desna | Ukraine |
| Fourth Place | Inter | Italy |
The Road to Glory
Real Betis' championship run was nothing short of extraordinary:
- Quarterfinal: Defeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4-3 on aggregate.
- Semifinal: Came back from a 3-1 first-leg deficit to defeat Inter 6-3 on aggregate, including a stunning 5-0 second-leg victory.
- Final: Defeated Hannover 96 3-2 to lift the Europa League trophy.
Few champions have taken a more dramatic path to the title. From surviving a six-goal quarterfinal thriller to producing one of the tournament's greatest semifinal comebacks, Real Betis proved throughout the knockout stage that they possessed both resilience and championship quality.
Meanwhile, Hannover 96 can take pride in an outstanding campaign that saw them reach the final after eliminating both Arminia and Desna. Desna's third-place finish will be remembered as one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 competition, while Inter's run to the semifinals showcased their ability to compete among Europe's elite.
The curtain closes on the Europa League 2026 season with Real Betis standing atop Europe, completing a memorable journey from comeback kings to continental champions.
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