Manchester United 1-2 Sevilla: Man Utd crash out of Europa League semi-finals

1/41
Joe Krishnan16 August 2020

A late strike from Luuk de Jong ended Manchester United's hopes of silverware as they were knocked out of Europa League semi-finals with a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla.

Bruno Fernandes' penalty had put United ahead in Cologne but goals from Suso and substitute De Jong handed the Spanish side a narrow victory to advance to the final in Germany.

Historically, this was not a tie that favoured United with just one win in their last eight against Spanish teams - and the Red Devils were knocked out by the Andalusian outfit in the Champions League two years ago.

But this was a different United side, with a new manager at the helm in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and almost an entirely different Sevilla side. One defeat in their last 24 games suggests an exciting new era is taking place under the Norwegian.

Solskjaer made two bold calls with his selection, with Fred and David de Gea starting ahead of Nemanja Matic and Sergio Romero.

Can't see the blog? Click here for the desktop version.

16 August 2020

Sevilla's path to the semi-finals

Group stage

MD1 | W 3-0 vs Qarabag (a)

MD2 | W 1-0 vs APOEL (h)

MD3 | W 3-0 vs Dudelange (h)

MD4 | W 5-2 vs Dudelange (a)

MD5 | W 2-0 vs Qarabag (h)

MD6 | L 1-0 vs APOEL (a)

Last 32

D 1-1 vs CFR Cluj (a)

D 0-0 vs CFR Cluj (h) *Sevilla go through on away goals

Last 16

W 2-0 vs AS Roma (n) *first leg cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic, played at neutral venue

Quarter-finals

W 1-0 vs Wolves (n) *played at neutral venue

16 August 2020

Man United's journey to the semi-finals

Group stage

MD1 | W 1-0 vs Astana (h)

MD2 | D 0-0 vs AZ Alkmaar (a)

MD3 | W 1-0 vs Partizan (a)

MD4 | W 3-0 vs Partizan (h)

MD5 | L 2-1 vs Astana (a)

MD6 | W 4-0 vs AZ Alkmaar (h)

Last 32

D 1-1 vs Club Brugge (a)

W 5-0 vs Club Brugge (h)

Last 16

W 5-0 vs LASK Linz (a)

W 2-1 vs LASK Linz (h)

Quarter-finals

W 1-0 (aet) vs FC Copenhagen  *played at neutral venue

16 August 2020

Last meeting

It's fair to say Manchester United will have some concerns about facing Sevilla tonight after their last meeting in the Champions League.

After earning a goalless draw in Spain thanks to David de Gea's heroics in goal, United would have been expecting to progress at home. But two goals from Wissam Ben Yedder - now at Monaco - condemned the Red Devils to a surprise defeat.

The Sevilla team they face tonight is almost entirely different two years later, but the Spanish outfit will be hoping for a similar outcome in Cologne.

16 August 2020

Why Sevilla are dangerous opponents for Man United

Photo: AFP via Getty Images

It is less than two-and-a-half years since Sevilla stunned Jose Mourinho's Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League, writes Ben Hayward in Spain.

However, United fans and staff would learn little by looking back at that 2-1 defeat, because tonight's Sevilla will be unrecognisable from the team that triumphed at Old Trafford.

While David De Gea, Eric Bailly, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic were all involved that night, Sevilla are likely to have only one player from their 2018 lineup in tonight's XI.

Midfielder Ever Banega should start for the Andalusian side in tonight's Europa League semi-final, but the Argentine will be surrounded by 10 different players to the ones who began at Old Trafford – and even he is about to leave.

It is what Sevilla do and it makes the club's spectacular success in the Europa League since 2006 (when it was still the Uefa Cup) even more impressive.

16 August 2020

Predicted Sevilla XI

And here is how Standard Sport's Spanish football correspondent Ben Hayward believes Sevilla will shape up this evening...

16 August 2020

Sevilla team news

Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Former Manchester City winger Jesus Navas has become an effective right-back in his second spell at Sevilla since playing in that position under Pep Guardiola and the 34-year-old will feature tonight, with Real Madrid loanee and reported Chelsea target Sergio Reguilon on the other side.

Goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik is available again after a knee ligament sprain suffered in July and was on the bench against Wolves, but Yassine Bounou should keep his place after he saved a penalty from Raul Jimenez on Tuesday.

Midfielder Nemanja Gudelj has been back with the squad since Thursday after missing the initial trip due to a positive test for Covid-19 and the Serbian is set to start as a substitute against United after a period of quarantine.

16 August 2020

Sevilla set to name unchanged XI

Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui is set to name an unchanged side.

Lucas Ocampos scored a late winner as Sevilla beat Wolves 1-0 on Tuesday and the Argentine winger is expected to line up on the left of a front three also featuring Suso and January signing Youssef En-Nesryi.

That means there is likely to be no place in the XI for strikers Luuk de Jong and Munir El Haddadi, who both made substitute appearances against Wolves.

In midfield, Ever Banega will continue to provide the creative outlet for the Andalusians in what could be the Argentine’s final game for the club as he heads to Saudi Arabia later this summer.

16 August 2020

Man United predicted XI

Here's how Standard Sport's James Robson sees Manchester United lining up for a huge game at the RheinEnergieStadiontonight, with Victor Lindelof back in defence and Nemanja Matic alongside Paul Pogba...

16 August 2020

Man United team news

Photo: Getty Images

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could recall Victor Lindelof to his defence tonight after starting Eric Bailly alongside Harry Maguire for Monday’s 1-0 quarter-final win against FC Copenhagen.

Nemanja Matic could also come back into midfield ahead of Fred, while Sergio Romero is expected to keep his place in goal instead of David de Gea.

16 August 2020

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of the Europa League semi-final between Sevilla and Manchester United in Cologne!

Latest updatesOlder updates