Prediction: Sevilla vs Manchester United

Verdict: Both teams to score – no

Best Odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: Unibet

With a spot in the final of this year’s Europa League up for grabs this weekend, Manchester United will face off against a resurging Sevilla at Koln’s RheinEnergieStadion on Sunday night.

Sevilla

Starting with Sevilla, picking up their own Premier League scalp in midweek and leaving it late to snatch a 1-0 win off of Wolves in Duisburg, few across Europe would have expected a remarkable purple patch for Los Palanganas. Only going from strength to strength since appointing one-time Spain boss Julen Lopetegui, the Whites now find themselves in the midst of a glittering 19-match unbeaten run across all competitions, a run that stems back to February 9th. In fact, enjoying their most fruitful patch in the club’s history, they managed to secure a Champions League return in La Liga this summer and will be confident of causing another upset later in the month. Seen as real Europa League royalty and eyeing their fifth European crown in this year’s extended tournament, the resurging Spanish outfit also gained plenty of admirers for their defensive resolve. While they might have had to keep Wolves out from 12 yards earlier in the week, the Orangers could only muster a single shot on their goal from open play on Tuesday night. More impressive, cruising past Italian high-flyers Roma with what turned out to be a routine 2-0 win earlier in the month, Sevilla have landed five clean sheets on the bounce and have picked the ball out of their own net just once in almost 800 minutes of action.

Team News

Ahead of Sunday’s semi-final, Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has no new injury concerns or suspensions to worry about.

Finding the net against Wolves last time out, Lucas Ocampos should start again on the left of an attacking three that also includes Suso and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Manchester United

As for Manchester United, while they might have entered Monday’s quarter-final as a landslide favourite with many, the Red Devils needed extra-time to come past a plucky Copenhagen and will know that they managed to dodge a real bullet. Failing to find the same level that has seen them regarded as the leading contender to lift their first Europa League crown since 2016, Head Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will know that his side must make some much-needed alterations at the RheinEnergieStadion on Sunday night. While the Premier League giants might not have been at their tantalizing best earlier in the week, United managed to secure a shock top-four return after what has been a stellar second half of this year’s campaign. Aside from their FA Cup heartbreak at the hands of Chelsea last month, that is the only matchup they have lost in any of their previous 24 matches across all formats. Unsurprisingly, if the Red Devils are to progress this weekend, then there is no doubt that Solskjaer will be calling on new attacking talisman Bruno Fernandes to lead their charge. Converting from the spot in extra-time against Copenhagen in the quarter-finals, the Portuguese playmaker has recorded seven Europa League strikes this season and currently leads the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot this summer. Even more impressive, since making the switch from Sporting Lisbon back in January, the 25-year-old has been directly involved in 19 goals in his opening 21 appearances for United.

Team News

Still struggling with an ankle injury despite them hoping he would be able to make a return to action, left-back Luke Shaw once again won’t feature on Sunday night. The Premier League outfit will also be without both Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones this weekend.

Elsewhere, after being rested against Copenhagen, Nemanja Matic is expected to be in line for a recall.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met in the 2018 Champions League knockout stage, Sevilla picked up a famous 2-1 win over Jose Mourinho’s United side at Old Trafford.
• Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 19 goals in his opening 21 appearances for United across all competitions.
• Sevilla are in the midst of a 19-match unbeaten run across all formats, the best run in the Spanish club’s history.
• Los Palanganas have recorded five clean sheets on the bounce and have conceded just a single goal in any of their last eight appearances.
• Manchester United have lost just one of their previous 24 matches across all formats, a run that stems back to January 22nd.

Conclusion

While Manchester United might have gained a reputation for their new-found displays in the final third either side of the enforced break, the Reds really failed to get out of third-gear against Copenhagen earlier in the week and will know that they dodged a real bullet. Needing extra-time to come past the plucky Danish outfit, chances could come at a real premium on Sunday night. With Sevilla coming past Wolves on Tuesday night in dramatic fashion, the resurging Spanish outfit have a real reputation for their eye-catching performances at the back. Recording another clean sheet against United’s fellow Premier League rivals and allowing them just a single shot at goal from open play, the Whites have landed five clean sheets on the bounce and have picked the ball out of their own net just once in almost 800 minutes of action.

Verdict: Both teams to score – no

Best Odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: Unibet