Sevilla vs Manchester United: Lukaku to deliver the goods once more

Form

This will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides. Sevilla have lost just the one home game this season, a 5-3 loss to Real Betis.

Otherwise they’ve been a revelation at home, including that Champions League game against Liverpool, where they were 3-0 down at half time and came back to draw 3-3. This won’t be an easy game for United, despite it being a preferable draw compared to that of Spurs’ and Chelsea’s with Juventus and Barcelona their respective opponents.

United meanwhile have lost their last two away games (v Spurs and Newcastle) and will be looking to stop the rot. The 2-0 win over Huddersfield in the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Saturday should’ve restored the confidence levels.

 

United Team News

David De Gea should be back in goal for the Red Devils after they used star back-up Sergio Romero for the weekend FA Cup tie.

Ander Herrera, Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford have all travelled and could be involved after returning from injury (illness in Pogba’s case).

Eric Bailly has also travelled after playing the last minute or so the other day. Alexis Sanchez will be starting his first Champions League game for the club tomorrow.

 

My Prediction

I think it’s great that United play the second leg at home, it maybe provides a mental advantage? I don’t think Mourinho would be too disheartened without winning in Seville.

This is a two-legged European tie and the only goal is to qualify for the quarter-finals, however United will play to win and away goals can become important factors in this competition as we’ve seen time and time again over the years.

I don’t see many goals tonight, an interesting tactical battle perhaps and as others’ have pointed out, Romelu Lukaku could thrive if Sevilla play with a high line and United’s creative players are on a going day.

The other English clubs may have put a bit of pressure on us, with Liverpool and City both winning easily. Tottenham and Chelsea also managed to pick up draws against two of the most established sides in the competition. That will not affect Mourinho’s thinking here though, as previously mentioned, it’s all about qualification.

I’m predicting United to get the one away goal and keep a clean sheet with a 1-0 win. I think it’ll be Lukaku’s night yet again, with him scoring the one and only vital goal for the first leg.

However the game goes let’s hope for a good result to take to Old Trafford.

 

Written by Jordan Hackett

Follow Jordan on Twitter @Devildart180

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