Izuchukwu OkosiManchester United was handed a tricky UEFA Europa League draw on Thursday as they have been drawn against perennial Europa League winners, Sevilla, in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
The Red Devils will face their third Spanish team in a row after previously seeing off Barcelona and Real Betis.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelNo team has won the competition more than Sevilla, with six triumphs – four of which within the last decade.
However, United will fancy their chances against a side who sit just 13th in the LaLiga standings.
Erik ten Hag’s side are on the trickier side of the draw, as if they progress against the perennial Europa League winners, they will then face Juventus or Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.
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The Red Devils and Juventus have history in the Champions League, but after their struggles in recent seasons, it could make for a mammoth clash in the semi-finals.
Juventus won’t find it easy against Sporting Lisbon however, who knocked out Arsenal in the last-16 after a penalty shootout victory at the Emirates.
Pedro Goncalves scored a stunning goal from near the half-way line to take the game to stoppage time, and it was Gabriel Martinelli who missed the penalty from the resulting shootout.
The other quarter-final clashes drawn were Bayer Leverkusen against Union SG and Feyenoord vs AS Roma.
United could go on to face former manager Jose Mourinho if they and his Roma side progress to the finals.
Mourinho guided the Italian side to Europa Conference League success last season, and will be hoping to go one better this season in the Europa League.
The Portuguese manager led United when they last won the Europa League in 2017, but was sacked the following year.
They however face a tricky clash with Feyenoord – who Roma beat to win last year’s Europa Conference League.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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