The semi-final
stage of the Europa League kicks off at the RheinEnergie Stadion in the German city of Cologne on Sunday with a resurgent Manchester United facing five-time
winners Sevilla FC.
Having secured
Champions League football for next season with a third-place finish in the
Premier League, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be looking forward to his first final
as Manchester United manager, having bowed out of the last four in the FA Cup and
the League Cup against Chelsea and Manchester City respectively earlier this
season.
The Red
Devils have been bolstered since the £55 million January arrival of Portuguese midfielder
Bruno Fernandes.
The former
Sporting CP star’s eight goals and 11 assists in 21 appearances have been hugely
significant in United’s season so far, drawing comparisons with the likes of club
legend Eric Cantona, whose goals led United to their first league title in 26
years following his transfer from Leeds United.
Top scorer in the competition so far with seven goals, Fernandes’ arrival
has added a new dimension to a previously underwhelming midfield and combined
with an already potent front three of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and breakthrough
academy starlet Mason Greenwood, United have become a real force to be reckoned
with and one of the contenders for the Europa League title.
Having blown
away Club Brugge and LASK in the round of 32 and 16 respectively, Manchester United
struggled to break open a resilient FC Copenhagen defence and only managed to
beat them thanks to late penalty scored by Fernandes.
Sevilla on
the other hand are Europa League royalty. Apart from being the most successful
side in the competition’s history, with five titles, they are also the team to
have won it in three consecutive seasons.
They secured
fourth spot in the La Liga table with an impressive run of form since the
restart, winning six and drawing five in 11 games. The Spanish side narrowly
beat Romanian outfit CFR Cluj in their round of 32 clash and outclassed Roma to
secure a 2-0 win in their last 16 tie.
Fullback Sergio Reguilon has attracted attention from a number of elite European clubs
with an excellent season so far, providing an attacking outlet on the left channel without
compromising on his defensive duties.
Argentine winger
Lucas Ocampos has been a constant source of threat for Sevilla this season, scoring
17 goals and setting up another five across competitions this season. He also netted
in his side’s quarter final win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sevilla
will take also heart from the fact that United still remain susceptible at the
back, with £78 million signing Harry Maguire prone to making errors at the
heart of the defence while Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea’s mistakes leading
to goals have increased at an alarming rate.
Fuelled by increased
levels of competition and a need to win trophies, the Europa League no longer
remains a consolation prize for Europe’s top clubs and both Manchester United and
Sevilla will be desperate for a chance to add to finish the season on a high note by securing a berth in the final.
