Tuesday UEFA Champions League Round of 16 – Manchester United vs Sevilla
March 13, 2018 19:45 – Old Trafford
Recent Form (Champions League):
Manchester United: WWLWD
Sevilla: LWDDD
A first ever competitive meeting between these two clubs came in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 game three weeks ago, a goalless draw tipping the advantage slightly towards the Spaniards.
Jose Mourinho’s men may rue the lack of an away goal, but with both teams knowing they need to score to progress, Mourinho will have to approach this game in a more positive frame of mind. United, who were playing their first Champions League knockout game in four years, offered little offensively, with Romelu Lukaku spurning their best chance when he volleyed over early on, before substitute Marcus Rashford dragged a shot wide in the closing stages. The telling stat was that David De Gea finished the game having made eight saves, the most for a Manchester United goalkeeper in a Champions League game since Edwin van der Sar made the same against Barcelona in May 2011. Manchester United have won just one of their last eight Champions League knockout games, drawing three and losing the other four.
In complete contrast, Sevilla, under the guidance of former AC Milan coach Vincenzo Montella, finished the game with 25 attempts on goal, but a mixture of De Gea’s saves and poor finishing from left the host frustrated at the final whistle. Sevilla failed to score in a Champions League home match for the first time in 19 attempts and it was their first goalless draw in any home European game since they played FSV Mainz 05 in a UEFA Cup match back in September 2005. The Andalusians have also scored in every away game this season including a 2-2 draw in the opening round of the competition at Premier League side Liverpool. Historically, Sevilla do not tend to travel well in this competition having picked up just one win in their last 12 Champions League games on the road. In Wissam Ben Yedder they have the third highest scorer left in the competition, so do carry a goal threat.
Sevilla qualified from the group stages with the worst goals against record of any of those who progressed, whilst United had the second best defence in the whole competition conceding only three times in six games. Both sides averaged two goals scored per game in their respective group games, and know that breaching the other team’s defence is of paramount importance to continue their Champions League adventure.
Prediction
Statistics show that 70% of away sides who draw the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie 0-0 end up progressing to the next round. That should be the case again here with Manchester United winning and both teams scoring.
You can back this outcome can be backed at 11/4 with Betfair.