Europa League final 2015 has the Ukrainian Lionel Messi, Sevilla eyeing history and Dnipro aiming for a fairytale

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Sevilla face Dnipro in UEFA Europa League final 2015 on Wednesday night
Liverpool target Yevhen Konoplyanka will be one to watch
Unai Emery's side can become first team to lift the trophy four times
A place in next season's Champions League is up for grabs for the winner

Published: 03:58 EST, 27 May 2015 | Updated: 08:28 EST, 27 May 2015

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The Europa League reaches its climax on Wednesday night as Sevilla and Dnipro prepare for battle at the National Stadium in Poland.

Although the competition often has to play second fiddle to the more glamorous Champions League, there are a number of exciting aspects to look out for.

Here, Sportsmail's Mike Keegan offers five reasons to get excited about the Warsaw showpiece.

Sevilla will take on Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the Europa League final at the National Stadium in Warsaw

Sevilla and Dnipro train ahead of Europa League final clash

Raheem’s replacement?

Dnipro’s rapid, direct winger Yevhen Konoplyanka could be the ideal replacement for Raheem Sterling.

He almost joined Brendan Rodgers' men last year for a reported £15million and is out of contract this summer. Konoplyanka was also close to signing for Roma in January with the club keen to grab a fee but he declined, stating it was his childhood dream to play in the Premier League.

At 25, the 'Ukrainian Messi' could be exactly the type of player Liverpool need should the seemingly inevitable come to pass. He is also a black belt, so look out for him should things turn ugly on the pitch.

Yevhen Konoplyanka could be the ideal replacement for Raheem Sterling should he leave Liverpool

Dnipro star Konoplyanka is out of contract this summer and has been linked with a move to England

Konoplyanka in action during Dnipro's final training session ahead of the Europa League final in Warsaw

History in the making

Unai Emery, a target for West Ham, can ensure Sevilla become the first team to lift the trophy four times. The Spaniards, who are looking to defend their title for a second time, are currently tied with Juventus, Liverpool and Inter Milan on three.

Settle in on the settee, stick the kettle on and watch history unfold before your very eyes. It beats the telly soaps and if nothing else, it will show fans of the likes of Spurs and Everton that there really is a point to all those Thursday night treks to far-flung corners of the continent.

Sevilla's Europa League-winning coach Unai Emery is highly regarded by the West Ham board

Emery can ensure Sevilla become the first team to lift the Europa League trophy four times

Champions League spot up for grabs

Not only are these two playing for the most handsome trophy in Europe, there is the added incentive of a place in next season’s Champions League.

For the first time, and in a bid presumably to increase the credibility of what is now considered Europe’s second-tier competition, the winner will get to join the big boys in the sister competition next season.

So if you are an Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City or Chelsea fan you might get a sneak peek of a potential future opponent.

The winner of Wednesday night's final will earn a place in next season's Champions League

Classic underdog story

We Brits love to root for the underdog and the odds will be stacked against Dinipro here.

Sevilla may have only finished fifth in the last two seasons but La Liga is far stronger than the Ukrainian Premier League and Emery’s men, who have lost once in their last 21 matches, start as 4-6 favourites.

The Spaniards won the trophy last year anyway, so there surely can only be one side to go for. Dnipro are seen as a pure team - the sum of which being greater than the individual parts - and can break at lightning pace.

Sevilla are the favourites to collect the trophy for a second successive season following their win in 2014

Fairytale in the making

Sticking with the underdog theme, if Dnipro can pull this off then Ukraine’s version of Hollywood may come knocking because this would be an epic tale.

Myron Markevych’s men have clocked up more air miles than Judith Chalmers on the road to Warsaw. For a start, they have had to schlep 243 miles to Kiev to play every home match thanks to the crisis in the east with Russia.

With their country gripped by conflict and the economic hardship that brings, some of the players have even dipped into their own pockets to pay for cash-strapped fans to get here.

Dnipro boss Myron Markevych (centre) talks to his players ahead of Wednesday's Europa League final

Some of the Dnipro players have dipped into their own pockets to pay for fans to get to Warsaw

ONES TO WATCH

Dnipro

Denys Boyko

The bearded stopper has been in sensational form in the tournament and is one of the key reasons why Myron Markevych’s men are in Warsaw. In the shock semi-final second leg 1-0 victory over Napoli, the Italians could not find a way past the agile 27-year-old’s tattooed arms and his gravity-defying save from Gonzalo Higuain in the first leg (a 1-1 draw) was inspirational. Can be a little unsure on crosses but will use every part of his body to keep opponents at bay.

Yevhen Konoplyanka

The pacy winger, 25, can use either foot and came close to joining Liverpool last year. Out of contract in the summer, he could be bound for these shores - potentially as a replacement for Raheem Sterling - and has spoken of his dream to play in the Premier League. A black belt in karate, he has been voted Ukraine’s player of the year three times and will need a big performance if Dnipro are to put the Spaniards on the canvas.

Douglas

The 6ft 2 Brazilian centre-half is another who will have to perform at his best should Dnipro stand a chance. A Vasco da Gama youth product he has a wise head beyond his 25 years. Douglas has amassed 53 interceptions this year and has superb positional sense. Another who may be destined for bigger things this summer.

Sevilla

Aleix Vidal

The 25-year-old left-winger-turned-right-winger-turned-full-back touched down in Warsaw to the news he had been selected in Vicente Del Bosque’s Spain squad for Spain’s forthcoming friendly with Costa Rica and Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus. A Catalonian jack of all trades, Vidal has been linked with a move to Barcelona to replace the outgoing Dani Alves. Cost just €3m from Almeria - it would now take much more than that to lure him to the Nou Camp.

Carlos Bacca

A robust Colombian striker who has been Sevilla’s top marksmen for the past two seasons following a £5m switch from Club Brugge. At 28, Bocca is expected to exit the Andalusian club this summer and would appear to be a perfect fit for the Premier League. Streetwise and aggressive, Bacca is a former bus conductor and fishmonger who came into the game relatively late. He has since made up for lost time and has represented his country on 29 occasions.

Sergio Rico

At just 21 Rico celebrated his first call up to the national side with Vidal to cap a remarkable season. The young keeper started the campaign as third choice but injuries to Beto and Mariano Barbosa gave him his chance and he seized it with both giant hands, keeping a clean sheet on his debut. Seville-born, he stands tall at 6ft 4 and was awarded a new, long-term contract in December. Rico has been compared with David de Gea and the similarities are striking.