Manchester United and Sevilla stage a winner-take-all UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on Thursday.
Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils saw a gorgeous display, 2-0 lead, and the health of two regular back line starters suffer in a 2-2 first leg draw at Old Trafford last week.
The Red Devils’ hopes of a Europa League crown to join the League Cup and, maybe, the FA Cup hinge on 90 minutes or more in a very hostile environment against a group of hardened tournament players.
Sevilla’s not having a season it would ever celebrate in La Liga, but can count itself back in Europe by winning Thursday and then staging three more successful knockout round showings.
Sevilla have got the better of Manchester United of late, unbeaten in their last four matches (W2 D2 L0). Manchester United are looking for their first win in games between the two sides since February 2018. Los Nervionenses have outscored United 6-4 during their unbeaten streak.
Five players rank as joint top scorers for Sevilla in Europa League play with one goal apiece. Visitors Manchester United have been led by Marcus Rashford, who has scored on six occasions in this season’s Europa League, including two match-opening goals. He is tied at the top of the scoring charts in the competition in 2022/2023.
The visitors have scored in 10 straight Europa League contests this season. They haven’t been shut out since their group stage loss against Real Sociedad.
Hosts Sevilla have won each of their two previous Europa League contests on home soil this season. Los Nervionenses will be out to prolong a three-match home unbeaten streak (W2 D1 L0) in all competitions.
Manchester United have not been defeated in away matches in the competition this season with four wins and one draw on their travels.
In their last six matches in all competitions, Sevilla have won two, drawn two and lost two. They scored eight and conceded seven in that period, scoring first in three of the six contests.
They had one first-half goal, while their opponents netted three times in the first 45 minutes. Manchester United have won four, drawn one and lost one in their last six.
They scored 10 and conceded five in that period, netting first in four of the six. They had five goals in the first half, while their opponents failed to find the net before the break.
Sevilla team news, injuries, lineup options
OUT: Marcos Acuna (suspension), Tecatito (ineligible), Pape Gueye (ineligibility)
Manchester United team news, injuries, lineup options
OUT: Raphael Varane (foot), Lisandro Martinez (foot – out for season), Alejandro Garnacho (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee), Mason Greenwood(Suspension), Tom Heaton (ankle), Phil Jones (knee), Marcus Rashford (groin), Luke Shaw (thigh), Scott McTominay (knock), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Marcel Sabitzer (undisclosed)
