Manchester United faced Sevilla in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals at Old Trafford. Sevilla, the six-time winners of the Europa League, were not in the best of form in La Liga. Nonetheless, they started the game strongly, enjoying the majority of possession and creating several chances to take the lead. United, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm in the opening stages of the game. They appeared to be missing the influence of Rashford, whose pace and movement were sorely missed in the final third of the pitch. The first half ended goalless, but the second half started with a flurry of activity from both teams. Sevilla continued to dominate possession, but it was United who had the first real chance of the half when Fernandes fired a shot just over the bar. Sevilla responded with a series of attacks, but they were unable to break down the United defence. De Gea was called into action on a couple of occasions, but he was equal to the task and denied Sevilla with some fine saves. United gradually began to assert themselves in the game, and they almost took the lead through Greenwood, who saw his shot saved by the Sevilla keeper. However, it was Sevilla who took the lead in the 78th minute when Navas whipped in a cross that was headed home by De Jong. United tried to respond, but they were unable to create any clear-cut chances in the closing stages of the game. The match ended 1-0 in favour of Sevilla, who will take a slender lead into the second leg. United will be disappointed with the result, but they will have a chance to turn the tie around in the return fixture. Speaking after the game, United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, admitted that his team had struggled to create chances without Rashford. He praised Sevilla for their performance and acknowledged that his team had a lot of work to do before the second leg. Sevilla coach, Julen Lopetegui, was delighted with his team’s performance, particularly their defensive resilience. He praised his players for their commitment and determination and said that they would take confidence from the result going into the second leg. The second leg of the tie promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams capable of producing moments of magic. United will be hoping to have Rashford back in their lineup, while Sevilla will be looking to build on their impressive performance in the first leg. For United, the Europa League represents their best chance of winning a trophy this season. They will need to be at their best if they are to overcome a formidable Sevilla side and progress to the semi-finals. The game promises to be an enthralling encounter, with both teams playing for a place in the last four of the competition.
