Sevilla advanced to this quarterfinal of the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League (UEL) with two home clean sheets, victories over PSV Eindhoven (3-0) and Fenerbahçe (2-0), and losses on the road. Therefore, a 2-2 draw at Manchester United in the first leg should have given them hope for advancing to their first UEL semi finals since 2019/20, which ironically saw their last win against United.
Sevilla received help from two United own goals in the final ten minutes of the first leg, but they improved by scoring two second half goals against Valencia last weekend. Now, under new manager José Luis Mendilibar, they will enter this match unbeaten against United (W2, D2) as well as against all other opposition (W2, D2). It wasn’t surprising to see a significantly altered lineup travel to Valencia at the weekend given that capturing a record-extending seventh UEL championship is probably their only chance to play in Europe next season.
The weekend saw United defeat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in league play, giving them seven of their past ten victories overall with a score of two goals or more. It was also their eighth straight game without allowing a goal in the first half. They can be optimistic that another good start will this time be amply rewarded if the defensive errors and subsequent own goals in the first leg were an aberration.
The 2020/21 UEL finalists have gone unbeaten in European play since losing to Real Sociedad on the opening match day at home (W8, D2), with remarkable three trips to Spain (W2, D1) in less than six months. They consequently have every reason to be confident that they will return home as semi-finalists, especially after winning five of their last seven UEFA games (W5, D2) played on Spanish soil.
Both the most recent home league game and three different UEFA home matches this season saw Youssef En-Nesyri score Sevilla’s first goal. After playing for Inter Milan in their 2019/20 UEL final loss to Sevilla, United midfielder Christian Eriksen will be determined to exact some form of personal retribution on Sevilla. With his last 23 goal scoring club appearances helping his side avoid defeat on the day (W18, D5), United will hope he can get on the score sheet.
TEAM NEWS
Gonzalo Montiel will not be available for Sevilla because of his suspension for receiving a yellow card in the previous week’s first leg at Old Trafford.
For the Spanish team in the Europa League, Pape Gueye is also ineligible, while Joan Jordan will not play due to the muscular injury he sustained in his previous match against Valencia.
Ivan Rakitic, Oliver Torres, Tanguy Nianzou, and Yassine Bounou are all expected to start this match after being rested from the first whistle against Valencia last time out. The majority of the starting lineup from the first leg should also be used.
Youssef En-Nesyri, who was shockingly only used as a substitute against Man United at Old Trafford, is set to be given a berth at center forward with Erik Lamela being chosen to lead the line.
For Man United, Bruno Fernandes’ suspension as a result of his previous week’s first leg yellow card.
The squad has been strengthened by the return of four players, but Donny van de Beek, Alejandro Garnacho, Tom Heaton, Scott McTominay, Martinez, and Varane are all undoubtedly out due to injuries.
All of the players Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Malacia, and Sabitzer trained on Wednesday and have already left for Seville, but Shaw might be the only one of the group to start.
In the middle of the defense, Maguire and Victor Lindelof should remain, and Fred is anticipated to be added alongside Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in the midfield.
After a speedy return to fitness, Rashford might only serve as a replacement because Jadon Sancho and Antony are expected to work alongside Anthony Martial in the last third of the field.
Possible starting lineup for Sevilla
Bounou, Navas, Nianzou, Marcao, Acuna, Fernando, Gudelj, Ocampos, Rakitic, O Torres and En-Nesyri.
Possible starting lineup for Manchester United
De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Eriksen, Antony, Martial and Sancho.
We predict: Sevilla 1-2 Manchester United
Man United will feel that they ought to have been eliminated in the first leg, but the Red Devils will now be put to the test in Spain. Despite Sevilla’s remarkable recent performance, we anticipate the Premier League giants to win the second leg and advance to the competition’s final four.