Sevilla is to the Europa League what Real Madrid is to the Champions League. Not only because the Hispanic club are the most successful in the second continental competition, just as the whites are in the first, but also because they will be the only Spanish representative in the quarter-finals.
Sevilla had the worst luck in the Europa League quarter-final draw by being associated with Manchester United. The Red Devils are well placed in the Premier League in the first year of a promising project, with players such as Rashford and Casemiro showing great level. The English team, curiously, will face the nervionenses after eliminating their eternal rivals, Betis, in the round of 16. At least Sampaoli’s side will play the second leg at their own stadium after playing the previous rounds with the second away game. And another fact for hope: every time he has reached the quarter-finals of this tournament, he has won it.
Sevilla, however, have no bad precedents against Manchester United, first favorite team to win the Europa League. In the 2016-17 Champions League, they knocked out the Mancunians after winning the second leg at Old Trafford, and in the 2020 Europa League semi-finals in Germany, the nervionenses also won the match just before winning the Sixth.
The semi-finals of the competition were also drawn, with little chance for Sevilla. If they manage to eliminate United, Sevilla will also have to beat the champions of the playoff between Juventus and Sporting Lisbon, which was another of the clashes in the draw. The Italians, although not having their best season, have enough resources to shine in the Europa League with players such as Di María, Vlahovic, Chiesa and company. Leverkusen eliminated Atlético in the Champions League and are a team which, since the arrival of Xabi Alonso on the bench, have progressed.
The other two matches are Bayer Leverkusen-Union Saint-Gilloise and Feyenoord-Roma. Mourinho’s Roma knocked out Real in the Round of 16 and are the Europa League titleholders, while Feyenoord are currently top of the Eredivisie and Sporting Portugal come in full of confidence after knocking out Portugal. one of the favourites, Arsenal. On the other hand, the Saint-Gilloise, the weakest team, occupies second place in the Belgian championship, where it finished last season.
The winners of these two qualifiers will meet in the semi-finals. The quarter-finals will take place on April 13 and 20, four weeks from now.
