Manchester United saw a two-goal lead slip against Sevilla at Old Trafford on Thursday in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.
The Red Devils were undone by two own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire in the last 10 minutes of the game after Marcel Sabitzer bagged a brace in the first half.
Sevilla have had a lot of problems at home in La Liga this season as they are looking to ensure their top-flight status while also having dismissed two managers. However, they showed in Manchester that they will never lie down in Europe as the kings of the Europa League found a way to rescue two goals and head back to Seville with it all to play for the second leg.
United started the game sharply as they took the game to Sevilla, looking dangerous every time they got forward. Within a few minutes we could understand why this season has been such a torrid one for the Spanish club in La Liga because they looked so vulnerable whenever they were attacked.
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This uncertainty defensively wasn’t likely just as a result of a season-long issue that has Sevilla fighting for their top-flight status but partly down to manager Jose Luis Mendilibar opting to make seven changes to the lineup for the clash against the Red Devils.
The hosts applied a lot of pressure on Sevilla in the early stages and it was only a matter of time until they scored. The opener came just before the 15-minute mark through midfielder Sabitzer. The Austrian international took a brilliant touch as he received the ball from Bruno Fernandes and with his second he was able to fire it past goalkeeper Bono, helped by a deflection off defender Marcao.
Even after going behind Sevilla left their weaknesses to be exposed as United exploited them down both flanks through Jadon Sancho and Antony. Sabitzer was also enjoying himself in midfield as he was able to find a lot of space to help his team get up the pitch.
The Bayern Munich loanee was then able to grab his second goal of the match after he ran onto a perfectly-timed through ball from Anthony Martial before cooly slotting past Bono to put the Red Devils comfortably in the driving seat. In recent weeks, Sabitzer has been having a growing impact on the team and his performance on Thursday in the attacking midfielder role was brilliant. A lot of questions remain surrounding United’s summer transfer window because of the ongoing takeover situation, but Sabitzer is certainly making a strong case for the club to turn his loan move into a permanent one.
Ten Hag’s side dictated the tempo of the match in the first half and while the visitors did have a couple glimpses of goal, they hardly looked a real threat. United managed the opening 45 brilliantly and would have felt like they could have easily scored a few more heading into the break - something they were left to pay for.
As you would have expected, Sevilla came out for the second half with a bit more fight as United’s intensity dipped in the early stages. The Spanish outfit slowly grew in confidence and started to ask their own questions of United’s defence as there were a few nervy moments when they broke forward.
They did, however, leave themselves exposed to the counter-attack and United almost got their third of the game with their first real big chance in the second half as a result. Brazilian Antony was released by Aaron Wan-Bissaka and he drove the ball down the line before cutting inside and rattling the post with his curling effort.
Sevilla sensed that there was still a chance for them to get something from the match and when Navas helped them pull one back in the final 10 minutes, it put United under the cosh in the final moments. David de Gea was then called into action to deny a powerful header from Youssef En-Nesyri as the nerves inside Old Trafford intensified. The Moroccan striker was then able to conjure up an equaliser as he saw another header cannon off Maguire to take the ball past De Gea and into the bottom corner.
There was then a sense that Sevilla could perhaps go on and score again and turn the tie on in the final moments but luckily for United the full-time whistle was blown. From a match that was seemingly in their control and should’ve been put to bed in the first half, the Red Devils will be feeling the pressure now heading to Spain for the second leg as the momentum is certainly with Sevilla. There was also another huge concern late on when Lisandro Martinez had to be carried off the pitch in great discomfort after suffering a freak injury. If it is as bad as it looks, he will be a huge loss for United in their most important weeks of the season.
