Manchester United face Sevilla at Old Trafford in the first leg of their 2022-23 UEFA Europa League semi-final.
Man Utd comfortably defeated Real Betis in the Round of 16, whilst Sevilla edged past Fenerbahce to qualify for this stage.
Team News
Casemiro is set to return for Man Utd after completing a domestic ban which has seen him miss Utd’s last four matches.
Marcus Rashford however is ruled out with a muscle injury which he suffered during their 2-0 Premier League win over Everton last weekend.
Tom Heaton, Alejandro Garnacho (both ankle), Luke Shaw (hamstring), Donny van de Beek (knee) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.
Sevilla will welcome Lucas Ocampos back into contention after he was suspended for their 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo in La Liga, replacing Pape Gueye who is ineligible for selection.
Joan Jordan (Achilles) and Tecatito Corona (muscle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Utd host Sevilla in the first leg at Old Trafford at 8pm BST on Thursday 13 April, live on BT Sport in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd are winless in three previous meetings against Sevilla in all competitions (D1, L2).
- Sevilla won 2-1 in their only previous visit to Old Trafford in March 2018, which saw them win their Round of 16 tie on aggregate in that season’s Champions League.
- Each of Sevilla’s two wins over Utd in all competitions were by 2-1 results.
- Antony has scored in each of Utd’s last two home matches in this season’s Europa League.
- Sevilla are winless in their last 11 away matches in all UEFA competitions (D5, L6).
Prediction
Having won their two recent home games with clean sheets and dominated both Brentford and Everton in terms of attack, Utd can be confident coming into this tricky game but I would like to see them cut out their wasteful end product which was at its worst in a clinical win over the Toffees.
Rashford though is a huge loss up front but with Casemiro back to control midfield, this offers the opportunity for players like Scott McTominay and Fred to step up and help out the attack higher up the pitch as long as Anthony Martial, Wout Weghorst and Jadon Sancho also raise their game.
Sevilla meanwhile have relegation worries in La Liga sat five points above the drop so I suspect their priorities might lie elsewhere, yet they do know how to win this competition so can’t be written off especially with it representing their only path into Europe next season.
The visitors’ away form also has been poor with no wins in their last 11 European away games to boot so a huge performance is required, especially with Utd’s Alex Telles eligible to face his parent club whilst Yassine Bounou could be difficult to break down in goal if he is at his best.
Utd though do look like a strong team who should have too much for this struggling Sevilla team, especially if they can adapt quickly without Rashford’s presence.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Sevilla
Result: Manchester United 2-2 Sevilla
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