Sevilla v Man Utd betting tips & preview: Prediction & best bets for Europa League semi-final

Recommended bets

2pts Half time draw in Seville v Man Utd at Evens

1pt Either team to win in extra time at 5/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

Sevilla v Man Utd

• Sunday 8pm | BT Sport 1
• Match odds: Sevilla 2/1 | Draw 9/4 | Man Utd 7/5

There's precious little between these two sides, with United just favourites after an extra time win against Copenhagen in the last round, when Bruno Fernandes scored their 21st penalty of the season to get them through.

Raul Jimenez missed a penalty for Wolves as Sevilla dumped them out, but the Spanish side deserved to go through on the night and produced a more complete performance than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, especially considering their respective opponents.

There aren't many goals around when five-time Europa League winners Sevilla are playing - they had six 'wins to nil' in their last eight games and in this competition they've only conceded three goals all season.

The half time draw (Evens) has its name written all over this and if you're going a step further then the 0-0 after 45 minutes (6/4) has to be on the shortlist given the cautious nature of these one-legged ties at this stage.

Oh, and the stats to support this aren't too bad either - with seven of Sevilla's 10 Europa League games being goalless at the break, along with three of their last four games in all competitions.

United hold their own in this category too, having been 0-0 at half time in their last three games straight, while also keeping a first half clean sheet in their last four European ties. If there's action, it'll be in the second half, bringing our old favourite second half with the most goals (11/10) squarely into play.

The handbrakes should be off really, with both sides already qualified for next season's Champions League, but Sevilla take this competition personally after dominating it over recent times, while Solskjaer would love to cap a decent season with a trophy so there'll still be nerves there.

Note also that a win here would make Solskjaer the third fastest Man Utd manager to win 50 games in club history (90 games) after Ernest Mangnall (78) and Jose Mourinho (81). Not bad for a man many believed, and some still believe, is out of his depth at this level.

Nobody's expecting goals, as 4/7 on under 2.5 suggests, while in the outright market if pushed you'd probably take just over 2/1 on Sevilla given that it looks a relative coin toss on paper. Preference would probably be on the draw at 9/4 with the game looking a prime extra time candidate.

For that reason we're having a speculative punt on either side to win in extra time - a great bet for fellow fence sitters.

Prediction: Sevilla 1-1 Man Utd (Sky Bet odds: 5/1)

Best bet: Half time draw in Sevilla v Man Utd at Evens

Best Bet: Either team to win in extra time at 5/1

Sevilla v Man Utd Opta stats

• Manchester United have progressed to the final from each of their last four semi-final appearances in major European competition (2007/08, 2008/09 & 2010/11 UEFA Champions League and 2016/17 UEFA Europa League), winning the trophy on two of those four occasions.
• This will be only the third European meeting between Manchester United and Sevilla – their other two games were in the last 16 of the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League, with Sevilla winning 2-1 at Old Trafford in the second leg, after a goalless draw in the first leg.
• Manchester United have been awarded 21 penalties in all competitions this season (four in the UEFA Europa League), including Bruno Fernandes’ extra time winner against FC København in the quarter final – more than any other side across Europe’s top five leagues.
• Sevilla have reached the UEFA Europa League semi-final on three previous occasions and gone on to win the tournament on all three occasions (2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16); in fact, the Spaniards have only been eliminated in one of their last 20 knockout ties in the competition, losing 6-5 on aggregate to Slavia Prague in the last 16 in 2018/19.
• Ole Gunnar Solskjær has won 49 of his 89 matches in charge of Manchester United. Victory in this game would see him become the third fastest manager to reach 50 wins in all competitions in the club’s history after Ernest Mangnall (78) and José Mourinho (81).
• Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in more UEFA Europa League goals this season than any other player (11 for Man Utd and Sporting CP combined). He has either scored (7) or assisted (4) in seven of his nine appearances in the competition this campaign.

Odds correct as of 19:32 BST on 14/8/20

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