Key events
The teams
Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Sabitzer, Antony, Fernandes, Sancho, Martial.
Subs: Butland, Vitek, Lindelof, Maguire, Eriksen, Fred, Dalot, Weghorst, Pellistri, Elanga, Iqbal.
Sevilla: Bono, Montiel, Nianzou, Marcao, Acuna, Fernando, Gudelj, Ocampos, Rakitic, Torres, Lamela.
Subs: Dmitrovic, Flores, Telles, Rekik, Suso, Mir, En-Nesyri, Navas, Gomez, Gil, Bade.
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Preamble
Manchester United have won four of their last five matches; Sevilla have lost five of their last nine. United are coming off the back of a calm 2-0 win over Everton; Sevilla just coughed up a 2-0 lead against Celta Vigo by shipping two goals in the last two minutes. United are upwardly mobile at the moment, with one trophy already in the bag and a Champions League berth next season within their grasp; Sevilla, fourth in La Liga last season, are currently floundering in mid-table.
But while all the current signs point to victory tonight for Erik ten Hag’s men, recent history between the clubs suggest it might not be quite so simple. That’s because Sevilla have yet to taste defeat against United in three competitive fixtures, knocking Jose Mourinho’s side out of the 2017-18 Champions League last 16, then doing for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men in the semi-final of the Europa League in 2020. They won on their only previous visit to Old Trafford in that former tie, thanks to a late quick-fire double from Wissam Ben Yedder. Oh, and there’s the small record of their absurdly good record in this competition, which they won in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020. United’s own recent Europa League record is impressive enough – winners in 2017, runners-up in 2021 – but Sevilla take it to another level. Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 8pm BST. It’s on!
