When Manchester United landed here in Seville just a month ago, progress in the Europa League felt like little more than a formality.
A three-goal lead from the first leg at Old Trafford meant that victory over Real Betis and a place in the quarter-finals was all but assured. Erik ten Hag had the luxury of resting players and giving a full debut to young winger Facundo Pellistri as United closed out a 5-1 aggregate win.
Ten Hag and his squad would have been in an equally comfortable position when they returned to the Andalusian capital on Wednesday were it not for that dramatic implosion in the 2-2 draw with Betis’ neighbours Sevilla at Old Trafford a week ago when two late own-goals by Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire handed the Spaniards a way back into this tie.
The season-ending foot injury sustained by Lisandro Martinez and the yellow card that has ruled Bruno Fernandes out of the second leg at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Thursday only added to United’s troubles.
Instead of travelling back here looking well on course for a semi-final against either Juventus or Sporting Lisbon, the tie now hangs in the balance.
At least, Ten Hag was able to welcome Marcus Rashford onto the team flight on Wednesday after the England forward recovered quicker than expected from a groin injury. Luke Shaw, Marcel Sabitzer and Malacia have also been passed fit.
But there is no doubt that United have made life hard for themselves. ‘It’s clear,’ conceded Ten Hag last night. ‘It is a tie of two legs. We played quite well over 60 minutes and in the last 30 minutes we became passive. It’s not acceptable, we know that. You get punished and now we have to go again.’
With United facing Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in just three days’ time, Ten Hag faces a difficult decision over how hard to push the players returning from injury – and Rashford in particular.
‘He had one training session with the team, but he had some sessions before individually,’ added the United boss. ‘I will make my decisions tomorrow.’
Sevilla may be 13th in La Liga but they are unbeaten in four games under new manager Jose Luis Mendilibar and have a special relationship with the Europa League having won it an incredible six times since 2006.
‘This competition is different for the sevillista.’ Mendilibar warned yesterday (wed). ‘You see it in the street.’
Sevilla (4-3-3): Bounou; Navas, Bade, Marcao, Acuna; Fernando, Rakitic, Gudelj; Ocampos, En-Nesyri, Suso.
Man Utd (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Sabitzer, Sancho; Martial.
Referee: Artur Dias (Portugal)