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Manchester United will be left cursing a poor second half performance as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The Red Devils are the favourites to win the Europa League but Sevilla are the perennial champions and will have been looking to win the competition for a seventh time.
The damage looked to have been done for Man Utd in the first half thanks to two goals from Marcel Sabitzer, but two late own goals have set up a thrilling second leg.
Here’s how the players rated at Old Trafford:
Manchester United
David de Gea – 6 – Pulled off a couple of brilliant saves that made up for poor kicking in the first half. But he was beaten by two big deflections late on, which he could do very little about.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7 – Kept Man Utd’s right flank pretty secure, which forced Sevilla down the other side (where they enjoyed a lot of success). Wan-Bissaka can look back on his performance with pride.
Raphael Varane – 7 – Defended well in the first half and was the man in the right place to head the ball off the line from a corner just before half-time. Picked up a knock moments not too long before and was taken off at half time, with Erik ten Hag rightfully not wanting to risk anything.
Lisandro Martinez – 7 – Really good defensively, looking strong and kept the Sevilla attack quiet in the first half. Suffered a late innocuous injury with no one around him, having to be carried off the pitch by compatriots Montiel and Acuna. Looked in distress and was eventually taken down tunnel on stretcher.
Tyrell Malacia – 4 – Sevilla had so much joy against Malacia, with Ocampos and Navas thriving. Fell asleep at the back post to allow Navas to get onto the end of a ball, eventually deflecting the cross into the back of the net, being awarded the own goal. It was a night to forget.
Casemiro – 8 – A standard Casemiro performance in which he looked excellent with his interceptions, passing and runs with the ball. Dropped into centre-back when Martinez went off after all the subs had been used.
Bruno Fernandes – 7 – Dropped deep almost alongside the centre-backs at times and looked to pull the strings from there. Played a good pass into Sabitzer to set up the Austrian’s first and was — in hindsight — taken off a bit too early, as Man Utd could have used him to keep some control. Will miss the second leg having been extremely harshly booked for a handball blocking a shot, with his arm close to his body and within its silhouette.
Antony – 8 – Absolutely fantastic, having Acuna on strings so much that the pair looked moments away from coming to blows in the second half. It was such a good battle that the Brazilian won, and he was so unlucky not to score when cutting inside in the second half having turned Marcao, but his curled effort hit the angle of post and crossbar. Fantastic.
Marcel Sabitzer – 8 – In the No.10 role, Sabitzer had a lot of fun early on, often running into the box untracked. Took both of his goals really well, with a nice touch and turn for the first, and a lovely run and finish for the second. Was quiet after half-time as Man Utd’s gameplan changed, but that wasn’t on it.
Jadon Sancho – 5 – Thought he had given Man Utd the lead inside the opening minute with a neat finish but he had just mistimed his run. Surprisingly that didn’t boost his confidence and instead Sancho looked a passenger at times.
Anthony Martial – 7 – Set up Sabitzer with a good run and pass, but his best moments in the first half came off the ball as he spread a struggling Sevilla defence, opning up gaps for his teammates. Quiet in the second half.
Substitutes:
Harry Maguire (for Varane 45) – 6 – Looked strong defensively but was the unfortunate man to rebound the ball into his own net for the late equaliser — not that he could do anything about it.
Christian Eriksen (for Fernandes 62) – 5 – Didn’t have the control of the midfield that Man Utd needed.
Wout Weghorst (for Martial 62) – 7 – Caused problems after coming on, reigniting a World Cup battle with Montiel.
Anthony Elanga (for Sancho 62) – 6 – Had his moments.
Facundo Pellistri (for Antony 81) – N/A – A late sub.
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Sevilla
Yassine Bounou – 6 – Produced a few good saves and couldn’t really do anything about either goal, beaten by a deflection for the opener.
Gonzalo Montiel – 7 – Picked up an early booking for throwing the ball away early on, stopping a quick free-kick. That could have made his night tough but the Argentine was excellent defensively, giving Man Utd’s left hand side no luck.
Tanguy Nianzou – 5 – Missed the ball in midfield to start build up for Man Utd’s second, losing the battle against Martial. Tested De Gea with header from corner just before half time, but was taken off in the second half as Sevilla went on the attack.
Marcao – 6 – Back in the team after a long injury layoff, it showed in the first half as Marcao struggled. Deflected the ball past Bounou for the opener having allowed Sabitzer the space he needed to get the shot off. Then let the Austrian rub by him for the second. Looked much better in the second half, like a completely different player.
Marcos Acuna – 5 – Looked a yard off the pace in the first half, quite literally at times as he played Sabitzer clearly onside for both goals, not pushing up with his teammates. That’s not to say saying they would’ve been offside, but there would’ve been more marginal calls for VAR to look at. Lost battle of the ball and head with Antony, and got better after the Brazilian went off.
Fernando – 5 – No presence in the midfield in the first half but grew into the game after half time. Produced a good block on Malacia’s shot which could have finished the tie.
Nemanja Gudelj – 5 – Like his midfield partner, offered no protection for his backline in the first half but was better after the break especially as he moved to centre-back.
Lucas Ocampos – 7 – A couple of good moments on the ball in the first up, thriving up against Malacia. Got even better after half time and put a beautiful ball into box for Maguire own goal.
Ivan Rakitic – 6 – The game passed him by in the first half but he was much better after the break, helping Sevilla get back into the match.
Oliver Torres – 5 – Created a three chances in the first half but really wasn’t the attacking threat through the middle that Sevilla needed. Taken off at half time.
Erik Lamela – 4 – Was not in the game at all and his only moment of note on the pitch was a foul on Casemiro which was reviewed for a red card, but rightly kept as a yellow. It was a bad challenge, but missed the actions of a stamp that some were calling it.
Substitutes:
Jesus Navas (for Torres 45) – 7 – Changed the game after coming on, absolutely rinsing Malacia and it was his dangerous ball that started the comeback.
Youssef En-Nesyri (for Lamela 67) – 6 – Was a nuisance after coming on and it was his late header that deflected off Harry Maguire for the equaliser — though it wasn’t going anywhere near the goal.
Suso (for Nianzou 73) – 6 – Not too bad.
Papu Gomez (for Montiel 90) – N/A – A late sub.
Source:Squawaka