On a thrilling night at Old Trafford, Manchester United squandered a two-goal lead in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla. The hosts had been in control at half time thanks to a brace from Marcel Sabitzer, but a mistake from Tyrell Malacia allowed Jesus Navas’ cross to deflect off the left-back and into the back of the net, with David De Gea unable to prevent the equalizer.
The game took another dramatic turn when Lisandro Martinez suffered what appeared to be a serious injury and was forced to leave the pitch in tears. However, Sevilla refused to be deterred and continued to press forward, eventually finding the breakthrough when Youssef En-Nesyri’s header smashed into Harry Maguire and ended up in the back of the net.
Despite the disappointment of surrendering their lead, Manchester United will take heart from their dominant first-half display. Sabitzer was the standout performer, scoring twice in the space of four minutes to put his side in control. The Austrian midfielder opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort that flew past Sevilla goalkeeper Bono and into the top corner.
Sabitzer then doubled his tally with a well-placed header from close range, following some excellent build-up play from his teammates. The 27-year-old has been in fine form for United this season, and his brace against Sevilla takes his tally to 11 goals in all competitions.
However, United’s defensive frailties were once again exposed as they allowed Sevilla back into the game. Malacia’s error proved costly as Navas’ cross deflected off him and into the net, with De Gea unable to react in time. The Spanish goalkeeper has come under criticism in recent weeks for his performances, and this latest mistake will only add to the pressure on him.
The injury to Martinez was another blow for Sevilla, who have been hit hard by injuries this season. The Argentine defender appeared to suffer a serious ankle injury and was in visible pain as he left the pitch. Sevilla will be hoping that the injury is not as bad as it looks, as Martinez has been a key player for them this season.
Despite the injury setback, Sevilla continued to push forward and were rewarded when En-Nesyri’s header found the back of the net. The Moroccan striker has been in excellent form this season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions, and his goal against United was a testament to his aerial ability and predatory instincts.
The result sets up a fascinating second leg between the two sides, with everything still to play for. United will be disappointed to have let their lead slip, but they will take heart from their first-half performance and the fact that they have an away goal. Sevilla, on the other hand, will be buoyed by their comeback and will be looking to finish the job in the return leg.
Overall, it was a thrilling night of football at Old Trafford, with both sides showing their quality and resilience. The second leg promises to be just as exciting, with both teams desperate to progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League.