Manchester vs Sevilla preview, team news, probable line-ups: Can Red Devils end poor record against Andalusian giants?

FOOTBALL Manchester vs Sevilla preview, team news, probable line-ups: Can Red Devils end poor record against Andalusian giants?

Kiplagat Sang 10:49 - 13.04.2023

The Red Devils are yet to beat the Spanish club in European competition.

After Champions League football, focus now shifts to the Europa League, and one of the matches is a Manchester United duel against Sevilla on Thursday at Old Trafford.

On their way to the quarter-final, the Red Devils finished behind Real Sociedad in their group before beating Barcelona in the Round of 32.

They were pitted against another Spanish side, Real Betis, in the Round of 16 and emerged as 5-1 aggregate winners.

Sevilla also played in the knockout playoffs – after finishing third in their Champions League group - and managed to see off PSV Eindhoven 3-2 on aggregate. In the Round of 16, Los Nervionenses defeated Fenerbahce 2-1 over two legs in the quarter finals.

Ahead of Thursday’s game, United struggled and went for three Premier League games without a win before a 2-0 home victory over Everton.

Sevilla, who appointed Jose Luis Mendilibar during the international break, are undefeated under the new boss thus far in two games.

Team News

Marcus Rashford with a muscle injury, Tom Heaton with an ankle injury, Luke Shaw ruled out by a hamstring injury, and Donny van de Beek with a knee injury are sidelined for United.

Alejandro Garnacho, who is also out with a knee injury, is another first-team player that Erik ten Hag will not have for this game.

However, Casemiro, who has not been available for the previous games due to suspension, is expected to feature against the Spanish side.

For Sevilla, Joan Jordan (Achilles) and Jesus Manuel Corona (ankle) are the only injured players, while Pape Gueye is ineligible to represent the club in the competition.

What are the stats saying?

Manchester United are yet to beat Sevilla in European competitions, drawing once and losing once in the UEFA Champions League Last 16 in 2017-2018 season and losing in the UEFA Europa League semi-final in 2020.

Sevilla have progressed from six of their previous eight European knockout ties (including finals) against English clubs, failing only against Leicester City in the 2016/17 Champions League and West Ham United in last season’s UEFA Europa League.

Manchester United are only the second side ever to face four different sides from the same country in a single season in a major European competition (Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Real Betis, Sevilla) after Leeds United also faced four Spanish clubs in the 2000/01 Champions League.

Sevilla are currently winless in 11 away games in Europe (D5 L6), losing the last three in a row. They have not lost four consecutive away games in European competition since February 2016.

Predicted line-ups:

Manchester United: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Sabitzer; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Sancho, Martial.

Sevilla: Bono, Montiel, Bade, Gudelj, Acuna, Fernando, Rakitic, Ocampos, Torres, Lamela, En-Nesyri.