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The teams are out. Manchester United wear their famous red; Sevilla turn out in first-choice white. A proper European atmosphere under the Old Trafford floodlights. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes. While we wait for the big kick-off, Duncan Edwards would like to talk through his pre-match nerves: “Oh no. With United having suffered some key injuries recently, the injury prone Martial in our line up, and also us having a couple of key players one yellow from a suspension, the LAST thing I wanted to see in the opposition are the words Erik and Lamela. Not that [curse word redacted by Family Website Editor] stirrer!”
Diego Maradona lives! Outside Old Trafford, Sevilla fans pay tribute to a famous former player …
… while Manchester United fans celebrate a beloved cultural behemoth of their own.
Erik ten Hag speaks to BT Sport and bigs up a few members of his squad. “Anthony Martial is ready … already he could have started against Everton, so with Rashford injured it is logical for him to start … I so hope for him that he stays fit and gets some games in a row … he needs that for his confidence … when he’s on the pitch he will score, he will link up, he will do a good job in the press … he is really important for us … when he’s fit he is massive for us … Bruno Fernandes can play so many roles in the team … he has so much game intelligence … Christian Eriksen is ready as well … but I want to do it really carefully … the midfield played really well against Brentford and Everton so it is not necessary to change a lot … Scott McTominay dropped out with injury, and Casemiro needs minutes, so it is logical to play this midfield … Jadon Sancho can create and give the final pass … they have to step up … we cannot always rely on Rashford … don’t forget Antony is still a young player … he has to learn and improve … but he will do … you will win with Antony, which he proved with me for the last couple of years [at Ajax] and also with Brazil.”
Manchester United have two players on the disciplinary tightrope, baby, nine miles high. Bruno Fernandes will miss the second leg in Seville should he pick up a yellow card tonight. The other player one transgression away from suspension? Casemiro. Of course he is.
Sevilla also have two players one booking away from suspension next week: Gonzalo Montiel, who slotted the winning penalty for Argentina in the World Cup final, and former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest striker Rafa Mir.
Manchester United make three changes to the XI that started the 2-0 win over Everton. Casemiro, Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane take the places of Harry Maguire, who drops to the bench, and the injured duo Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford.
Sevilla make seven changes to their starting XI from their weekend draw with Celta Vigo. Bono, Gonzalo Montiel, Ivan Rakitić, Tanguy Nianzou, Óliver Torres, Marcão and Lucas Ocampos return. Marko Dmitrović, Suso, Youssef En-Nesyri, Jesús Navas, Bryan Gil and Loïc Badé drop to the bench, while Pape Gueye misses out altogether.
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!
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