Manchester United and Sevilla share spoils in Europa League quarterfinal thriller

In a thrilling Europa League quarterfinal match at Old Trafford, Manchester United and Sevilla played out an exciting 2-2 draw. The match was filled with drama, as both sides traded blows throughout the game.

Manchester United started the match brightly, with Marcus Rashford scoring in the ninth minute to give the home side the lead.

Bruno Fernandes then doubled United’s advantage from the penalty spot in the 20th minute, giving the Red Devils a commanding 2-0 lead at halftime.

However, Sevilla came out firing in the second half and began to pile the pressure on United’s defense. Their persistence was rewarded in the 87th minute when United defender Victor Lindelof deflected a cross from Jesus Navas into his net, giving Sevilla a lifeline.

The Spanish side then equalized in the 93rd minute when United captain Harry Maguire deflected a shot from substitute Youssef En-Nesyri into the net. The own goal left the home side stunned and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Despite the result, both teams had reasons to be positive. Manchester United had a strong performance in the first half, while Sevilla’s comeback showed they were a dangerous side.

United will be hoping to use their first-half display as a springboard for the second leg, while Sevilla will be buoyed by their late comeback and will look to build on it in the return fixture.

The second leg of the quarterfinal tie took place on April 15th in Spain, with Manchester United securing a 2-0 victory to progress to the semifinals.

The Red Devils will now face Italian side AS Roma in the next round of the Europa League, while Sevilla will have to wait until next season to try and go one step further in the competition.

How many times has Manchester United been in the Europa League?

Manchester United, one of the most successful football clubs in English history, has participated in the Europa League five times so far. The Europa League is Europe’s second-tier club competition, featuring teams from across the continent.

The Red Devils’ first Europa League campaign was in the 2011-12 season, where they made it to the round of 16 before being knocked out by Athletic Bilbao. They returned to the competition in the 2015-16 season, where they made it to the round of 16 once again but were eliminated by arch-rivals Liverpool.

Manchester United’s fortunes in the Europa League changed in the 2016-17 season when they lifted the trophy, defeating Ajax 2-0 in the final. The win secured their passage to the following season’s Champions League.

In the 2019-20 season, Manchester United made it to the semifinals before being eliminated by Sevilla, who went on to win the competition. The Red Devils made it to the final once again in the 2020-21 season but lost to Villarreal in a dramatic penalty shootout.

Overall, Manchester United’s performance in the Europa League has been a mix of highs and lows. However, their victory in the 2016-17 season will forever remain a cherished memory for the club and its fans.

Leave a Comment