Don't question the master: Sevilla storm past United

The record six-time winners thoroughly outplayed Erik ten Hag's side, who repeatedly shot themselves in the foot again, having scored two own goals in the first leg. Harry Maguire, guilty of one of those calamitous moments, endured another as he gave the ball away on the edge of his own area and Youssef En-Nesyri pounced to break the deadlock early on.

Loic Bade headed home the second from a corner in the first minute of the second half, with Jose Luis Mendilibar's side meriting their advantage, which they defended adroitly. En-Nesyri rolled home his second goal into an empty net after United goalkeeper David de Gea put the ball on a plate for him with a mishit clearance while outside his area. Ten Hag started with Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw on the bench with the duo on their way back from injury.

With the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan rocking, Sevilla threw themselves into the game with great intensity and were swiftly rewarded by Maguire. With Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane injured, Ten Hag had no choice but to start with the Englishman at centre-back alongside Victor Lindelof. Maguire rolled the ball back to goalkeeper De Gea and called to receive it again from the Spanish goalkeeper, seemingly nonplussed about the three Sevilla players buzzing around him.

As Maguire tried to pass the ball, former Tottenham winger Erik Lamela intercepted it and En-Nesyri took charge of the situation and stroked it past De Gea at his near post. United tried to fight back but created few chances of note, shorn of suspended playmaker Bruno Fernandes. Aaron Wan-Bissaka sent a tame shot at Yassine Bounou, who collected easily, with Sevilla's biggest first half concern an injury to defender Marcao, who had to be replaced.

Sevilla thought they had netted a second goal when Lucas Ocampos rammed home to ignite the Pizjuan again but VAR showed a tight offside against Marcos Acuna in the build-up. A second goal would not have flattered the hosts or their fans, who looked every bit the Europa League experts their outstanding record illustrates, rather than their domestic version, battling relegation. Casemiro deflected an Ivan Rakitic drive over the bar late in the first half as the hosts pushed to double their advantage.

 

April 20, 2023