Sevilla’s incredible record against Premier League clubs

The Europa League returns tonight and that means that Sevilla are back in action. But can they get past a resurgent Manchester United?

Manchester United host Sevilla in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash today. Erik ten Hag’s side are the favourites to progress against a Sevilla team struggling in La Liga this season, but the Spanish club boast an incredible European record in recent years.

In 2005/06 Sevilla won their first continental title with a triumph in the UEFA Cup, the competition that would go on to become the Europa League. In the subsequent 14 years they lifted the trophy another five times, including three consecutive titles starting in 2014.

This astonishing 15-year run, ending with their most recent win in 2019/20 has established Sevilla as the most successful side in the history of the competition. Manchester United should be weary, during the course of that spell they have enjoyed a number of notable successes against Premier League opponents.

Sevilla dominate English sides in Europe

In the past Sevilla have played eight knock-out ties or finals against English opposition. They have won six of them.

Here’s how those ties went…

- UEFA Cup final (2005/06): Sevilla 4-0 Middlesbrough

- UEFA Cup quarter-final (2006/07): Sevilla 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur

- Europa League final (2015/16): Liverpool 1-3 Sevilla

- Champions League last-16 (2016/17): Sevilla 2-3 Leicester City

- Champions League last-16 (2017/18): Sevilla 2-1 Manchester United

- Europa League quarter-final (2019/20): Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Sevilla

- Europa League semi-final (2019/20): Sevilla 2-1 Manchester United

- Europa League last-16 (2021/22): West Ham United 2-1 Sevilla

Of the eight ties between Sevilla and Premier League sides, only Leicester City and West Ham United have managed to progress. The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United, on two occasions, have fallen foul of the Europa League experts.

Manchester United vs Sevilla: Head-to-head record

On current performances, Manchester United are strong favourites to beat an out-of-form Sevilla side. Despite a brief blip last month, the Red Devils are a resurgent force under Ten Hag and are currently fourth in the Premier League with a game in hand over fifth-placed Spurs.

Sevilla, meanwhile, have had a torrid time in the Spanish top flight and currently sit in 13th position, just five points clear of the drop zone. The club is now on its third coach of the season but will retain hope of pulling off another famous win against Manchester United.

The three previous matches have all come in the past five years and Sevilla have certainly had the best of those fixtures.

In 2018 they played in the Champions League last-16, with Manchester United led by Jose Mourinho. After a cagey 0-0 out in Spain Sevilla staged an upset at Old Trafford, winning 2-1 on the night to progress.

Then, in the pandemic-affected 2019/20 season, they met in the Europa League in a one-legged semi-final. A late Luuk de Jong goal secured a 2-1 win for Sevilla and set them up for their record sixth Europa League/UEFA Cup triumph in the final.