Sevilla v Manchester United Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 21st February 7.45pm
This looks as if it is set up to be a good contrast between Seville and Manchester United, who are the respective winners of the last two Europa League titles. Sevilla will be looking to make the most of home advantage this week in the first leg, as they strive to make it to the quarter finals of the competition for the first time. Manchester United are never an easy side to get the better of though and they have decent form out in Spain having lost just one of their last eight visits there.
Sevilla News and Form
The Spaniards picked seven points from their three home games in the group stage, easing to wins over Maribor and Spartak Moscow and then somehow managed to rescue a point after being 3-0 down at half-time against Liverpool. The game ended in a 3-3 draw. Sevilla finished second in the group behind Liverpool at the end of the day. Their home form is pretty good in Europe with them having gone W6 D2 L1 in their last nine and they have only one previous home defeat against an English side in Europe, and that was against Man City in the 2015/16 Champions League group stage.
Los Rojiblancos met Leicester as well last season at this stage and went out 2-0 on aggregate. Overall the home form of Sevilla against sides from England is W3 D1 L1. They have been through two two-legged knockout ties against English sides and hold a W1 L1 record from that. This may well be a cagey opener and under 2.5 goals at bet365 is at 7/10 odds* (Betting Odds taken on February 18th, 2018 at 4:55 p.m.). Sevilla have lost their three previous visits to this stage of the tournament and currently are without a win in their last four games in all competitions (D2 L2).
Manchester United News and Form
Manchester United are heading into their 10th round of sixteen tie in the Champions League. From their previous nine visits, they are W6 D3 and they are carrying form at this stage with wins in six of last seven round of 16 ties. Strangely though Manchester United have only produced two wins in their nine previous round of sixteen away games (D4 L3). The group stage was easy for them, winning five of their six, losing the other one at Basel on match day five. Overall United hold a very strong W13 D3 L2 record in their last eighteen away games in Europe and you would expect them to do something of a solid defensive job at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium. Last season they visited Spain and took 1-0 Europa league win over Celta Vigo in the semi finals. In the bet365 correct score market a 1-1 draw is the shortest-priced option at 5/1 odds* (Betting Odds taken on February 18th, 2018 at 4:55 p.m.). Manchester United have actually only won just two for their last eleven matches against Spanish clubs (D4 L5) and have taken just the five victories in their last 22 fixtures against La Liga (D9 L8) opponents. Overall United are W13 D20 L17 against Spanish clubs and away it is W3 D10 L10. United boss Jose Mourinho won seven of his eight fixtures against Sevilla while coach of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013.
Sevilla v Manchester United Head to Head
Manchester United and Sevilla have never met before in European competition.
Sevilla v Manchester United Betting Odds*
Man Utd 6/4, Sevilla 9/5, Draw 9/4* (Betting Odds taken on February 18th, 2018 at 4:55 p.m.)
Sevilla v Manchester United Predictions
Manchester United would probably be happy enough with a draw at the Andalucian club in this first leg which gives them plenty to work with back at Old Trafford. You get the feeling that it is going to be a night of caution from the visitors who don’t have great winning form in Spain, so back the draw.
