Sevilla sends Manchester United out of UEFA Europa League

Youssef En-Nesyri reached a milestone as he scored a brace to help Sevilla knockout Manchester United from the UEFA Europa League quarter-final stage, having scored his 50th Sevilla goal in a 3-0 victory over the Red Devils.

Sevilla may have had an inconsistent season so far, but they once again proved why they are known as the Kings of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. The Spaniards kept their chances alive from the first leg despite going down a 2-0 deficit at Old Trafford last week.

A late defensive capitulation from Manchester United revived Sevilla’s chances of getting a result in the second leg after Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire own goals in the first leg.

The second leg couldn’t have started worse with a defensive mixup from David De Gea, and Harry Maguire allowed En Nesyri to open the scoring in the eighth minute. 

The hosts made it 2-0 just before half-time as defender Loic Balde headed home. Manchester United were a shadow of whom they were in the first leg, and it was evident when another late mistake from David De Gea in the final ten minutes sent the Red Devils out of the competition.

Sevilla moved through 5-2 on an aggregate, and despite being 13th on the table and twelve points from European places, they remain in contention of making the UEFA Champions League through the Europa League, a competition they know how to win.

They will face Juventus in the semifinal on 11 and 18 May for the first leg and Second leg, respectively. The Italians, who recently had their fifteen-point deduction in the league reversed, beat Sporting Lisbon on aggregate to move to the semifinal.

Manchester United have a lot to still play for, with a semifinal FA Cup clash with Brighton coming up and a Premier League clash with Spurs afterwards in the race for the top four.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu