Man United vs Sevilla Europa League Quarter Final : Preview, Odds, Predictions (April 13)

Initial Thoughts

A Premier League side on the up against a La Liga team having a season to forget. Will Sevilla’s former glories in this competition count for anything when Man United host the struggling Spanish side on Thursday night?

The Narrative

Erik ten Hag has turned Man Utd around this season, with the Red Devils already having bagged the Carabao Cup and still competing for both the FA Cup and Europa League title.

Currently in 5th place in the Premier League table, competition will be fierce for the fourth and final champions league place, and victory in the Europa League may be United most likely path to UCL qualification next season.

Sevilla are enjoying the opposite fortunes this campaign. The club - who’ve finished 4th in La Liga for the last three seasons - are embroiled in a relegation battle at the bottom of the table. And they’re on their third manager of the current campaign, having already sacked both Julen Lopetegui and Jorge Sampaoli.

Since taking over last month, Jose Luis Mendilibar has guided Sevilla to consecutive games without defeat. But the Spanish side face a massive job against a Man United team that may be peaking at exactly the right time.

Nuts and Bolts

Man Utd are already 3-0 up against La Liga in the Europa League this season. 

The Red Devils beat Real Sociedad away in the group stage, before knocking both Barcelona and Real Betis out of the competition in the last two rounds.

Erik Ten Hag’s side scraped past the Catalan giants 4-3 on aggregate back in February. But United made light work of their Round of 16 encounter with Betis - winning home and away and scoring five times while conceding only once.

Heading into Thursday nights fixture, United are seeking a third win on the bounce in all competitions, having racked up back-to-back home victories against Brentford and Everton. 

In fact, Ten Hag has succeeded in making Old Trafford a fortress this season. United are unbeaten in Manchester since the opening day of the campaign, and have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four matches at home.

There’s no doubt Sevilla are having a season to forget domestically, but only the foolish would underestimate them on the European stage.

The Andalusian side have lifted the Europa League trophy a record six times in the last twenty years, and triumphed in the competition as recently as the 2019/20 season.

On top of that, Sevilla have never lost to Man Utd in three competitive matches, and the Spanish side ran out 2-1 winners the last time these teams met in the Europa League semi-final two years ago.

Homestand Picks

All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets

Parlay: Man United & Over 2.5 total goals (-105)

Dragged into a relegation dogfight, Sevilla may view the Europa League as a distraction this season, despite their former glories in the competition. Man Utd are strong favorites but this same game parley offers value on the night.

Wout Weghorst anytime goal (+170)

Without the injured Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst will likely lead the line and the dutchman is good value for an anytime goal on Thursday.

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