HISTORIC! Häcken v Hammarby in the first ever Europa Cup Final

History will be made in the very first UEFA Women’s Europa Cup Final – and the winner will be Swedish, as this Friday Häcken host deadly domestic rivals Hammarby, with the home team 1-0 up after the first leg.

We get the lowdown from two key players – Felicia Schröder and Sofia Reidy – on the latest in the two teams’ five meetings this year…

Felicia Schröder has just turned 19 and is already BK Häcken’s super striker, with 83 goals in 119 appearances. That’s a goal every 129 minutes, regular as clockwork. Plus 16 assists.

Schröder has already featured in the national team at every age group – and she is on the radar of all the big clubs in Europe, but is more than happy to stay in Sweden. For now.

Sofia Reidy is 22 and a rock in the Hammarby IF defence who also chips in with the odd goal. She grew up (perhaps ironically) near Gothenburg, playing for Jonsereds IF.

Reidy previously played with her big sister, Ella, at Jitex BK, before signing with Kristianstads DFF two years ago. She joined Hammarby in July 2025 and now features in the Sweden national team too.

It’s Häcken’s first European final in their 86-year history. And it’s doubly unprecedented as the first time two Swedish clubs have ever met in a European final. So it’s Swede against Swede, or Gothenburg against Stockholm, with no love lost, but a bumper crowd expected.

We speak to both Felicia Schröder and Sofia Reidy ahead of the cracking second leg of the inaugural Europa Cup Final…

First up, Felicia Schröder. Just phenomenal. A generational talent. And she is more than ready for the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup.

She acknowledges that this first ever Europa Cup final is historic. And she sees the second leg as more like the final, as Häcken are now at home in front of their own fans and family “and everything”. She says it’s special, and it would mean everything to win and be champions of Europe. A dream, in fact.

Is it an advantage knowing the opponent so well? Oh yes, she reckons. But “they also know us well; how we play and our strategies on the pitch.” Playing Hammarby five times this year, they are serious rivals at the top, but as well as being an intense match-up, Schröder says “it’s gonna be fun!”

What’s been crucial in Schröder’s development is her decision to stay on at Häcken, signing a new contract, and not really thinking about the future yet… “time will tell.” She deliberately chose not to leave, not stressing over it. “I’m young,” she says, “and it has to be the right move.” Plus she feels like she’s improving and developing every day – working on her physicality, being strong and smart – and she really is a team player.

I first ask Schröder about form, noting that Alessia Russo told me that form is a very real thing for her. Once you get on a goal-scoring streak, she says you almost can’t stop scoring goals, and I wonder if you feel the same in the Europa Cup?

Schröder:Yeah, especially as a forward, and for me, personally, it’s just scoring goals for the team and getting points, and it’s really important to me.

I’m really glad that I can help get the team with points and goals, and that’s what I’m looking for when I’m out at the pitch.

When you are in a flow, you just keep going, and you have your teammates behind you, who are also in the flow to do the assists, so, yeah, it’s a team goal.

What would you say, in the last season you’ve added to your skill set? Because you’ve been scoring lots of different kinds of goals, with assists as well?

Yeah, I think it’s practice after the trainings,

Some different shots, yeah, just different shots after training in different situations, and just go with the head, right foot, left foot, and everything in between!

When you look at other women strikers, who are the ones you admire, and look at their skills?

I don’t know, I looked up so much to Didier Drogba, looking at his goals, so much of Didier Drogba.

And also… there are so many good strikers out there. Like you said, Alessia Russo, Stina Blackstenius [her Sweden teammate], and yeah, Bunny Shaw. So many.

Finally, you mention Bunny Shaw. Did Jamaica ever try and get you to play for them instead of Sweden?

[smiles] No, never. They have never tried, but I think I would stay in Sweden.

Sofia Reidy is equally confident, while realistic about the task ahead.

Hammarby are undaunted by the challenge ahead of them, to come back from losing 1-0 at home in the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup Final. And Gothenburg-born defender Sofia Reidy is certain the Stockholm side’s passionate fans – their 12^th player – will give them a big boost in the second, away leg at Häcken… aka in Gothenburg…

Reidy reckons the way the tie stands will suit them perfectly, to chase and really attack with their offensive playing style. She also believes that having two Swedish teams in the final shows that their league is one of the best in the world – and she loves that her own team develop young players and really give them a chance. But mainly, she wants Hammarby to focus on winning.

When I speak to Sofia Reidy (above, left), I first ask if the team have any surprises up their sleeves for the second leg of the final…

Well, I think we’re just gonna take out the good parts from the game we did here at home. We have a lot of good stuff that we’re doing, small changes that we feel are gonna make a big difference in the game, so we’re just super excited to go out there and do a good performance.

Can you tell me what it’s like to go up against Felicia Schröder, she’s so exciting, and obviously you play with her for Sweden, but you’re up against her on Friday, what’s she like then?

Outside of football, she’s a really nice person, and on the field, she is an annoying player to play against. She’s quick, and you never know what she’s gonna do next.

You always have to be prepared for the unexpected when it comes to her, I feel. She’s a really good player, very talented, and has good qualities. So it’s just fun to play against those kind of players.

You’ve scored the odd goal this season. So does it give you more satisfaction scoring a goal, or when you keep a clean sheet?

It’s hard. I’m a defender, so I would rather maybe have a clean sheet, but, of course, if I can help the team to score, it’s always fun, and to be able to play higher up in the pitch is just super fun.

It’s a long season stretching out ahead of you, so what are you expecting for Hammarby by the end of the season?

To do good performances, and I would say win titles and win the Swedish League. We have high demands on ourselves, and we think that we can make it. So I would say win titles and just play a really fun football.

And Gothenburg is your hometown, so does that mean your entire family, friends and everybody will be there on Friday?

Yes, they will.

How many?

Well, I only got four tickets, but I will probably have a lot more than four people there!