THAT JULIO BAPTISTA GOAL WHICH MEANT THE LAST CELEBRATION OF A QUALIFICATION

After nine years without qualifying for Europe, in a tumultuous run that included two relegations, Sevilla FC - 14 years ago today - finally got their hands on that ticket to the UEFA Cup. In a battle of a fixture against Club Atlético Osasuna, who were not playing for anything but had already starred in fiery clashes against Andalusian teams in the past, Sevilla came out 1-0 winners. 

Against Club Atlético Osasuna, who were not playing for anything but had already starred in fiery clashes against Andalusian teams in the past, Sevilla came out 1-0 winners

A lot of images are still burned in the minds of Sevillistas from that exciting and tough match. Perhaps above all else, history saved a special space for 12-rounds of ferocious action between Sevilla's centre-back pairing of Pablo Alfaro and Javi Navarro and Osasuna's formidable forward-line of Chengue Morales, Aloisi, Webo and Bayakoko. Under the management of Joaquín Caparrós, Sevilla played with their hearts on the line and would eventually find the one and only breakthrough after link-up play between Dani Alves and Julio Baptista. The latter would slot the ball past Elía with scary amounts of composure.

Against Club Atlético Osasuna, who were not playing for anything but had already starred in fiery clashes against Andalusian teams in the past, Sevilla came out 1-0 winners

That very Sevilla win, after all was said and done, meant more than just three points in La Liga competition. Thousands of Sevillistas flooded to Puerta de Jerez in Seville where the team also celebrated the club's ninth qualification for Europe in the fountain of Avenida de la Constitución.

That Sevilla win, after all was said and done, meant more than just three points in La Liga competition

There were few players in that fountain who could scarcely have imagined the successes and happiness that would follow. With Pablo Alfaro, Antonio Notario, David Castedo, Aitor Ocio, Jesús Navas, Javi Navarro, José Luis Marti and Daniel Alves all part of the legendary Sevilla side that would eventually lift the first Europa League of five won by Sevilla (then still the UEFA Cup), the win they had just experienced was only the beginning. 

Julio Baptista would link up with Dani Alves to score the only goal of the game

As things happened, that 23rd of May was to be the last time Sevillismo would flood Puerta de Jerez to celebrate a European qualification. After getting their hands on that European ticket, 13 more would come in the next 14 seasons, six of them for the Champions League. It was a win against Osasuna that would prove the definitive step-up in quality that Sevillistas had been calling for. A start of a new era and a true turning point in the fortunes of the Nervionenses. Since then, qualifying for Europe has become something of a custom and increasingly an obligation for a respectable season.