Sevilla clinched a place in the Europa League semi-finals by beating Manchester United, courtesy of a brace from En-Nesiry and a late strike from Badé.
The opening period belonged to Sevilla, who dictated the tempo with clear intent. Mendilibar’s squad looked composed and practical, demonstrating that simple, direct football can yield tangible results. In contrast, Sampaoli picked a more volatile lineup that struggled to settle on the turf. The Basque coach settled on a compact four-man line in midfield crowned by Fernando and Gudelj, with physical resilience provided by the pair of Rakitic and En-Nesyri guiding play, and Ocampos regaining his trust and impact on the flank.
Sevilla pressed higher and showed a willing aggression both with and without the ball. They pressured the visitors relentlessly, denying Ten Hag’s side any space to breathe and pouncing whenever opportunities arose. In one decisive moment, three Sevilla players closed down De Gea after Maguire tangled with the ball, and En-Nesyri pounced to put the Andalusian club ahead. A setback followed soon after when Marcao picked up a muscle injury in the 10th minute, forcing Gudelj to drop deeper and Suso to slot into a more central role in midfield.
Maguire’s costly mistake was seized upon by Sevilla, triggering a collapse at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. A Madrid-like roar rose from the stands as the home side pressed with renewed urgency—seeping through Old Trafford’s confidence and leaving United with little room to maneuver. The atmosphere intensified as Sevilla rode the wave of momentum, a reminder of the club’s European pedigree on nights like these.
Before the break, Ocampos thought he had doubled the lead, but VAR chalked it off due to a razor-thin offside; Acuña remained instrumental in providing support and overlapping runs that kept United unsettled.
An Unbelievable United
Yet the second half mirrored the first in Sevilla’s intensity. From a corner, Rakitic delivered and Badé finished with a shoulder strike that rippled the net and stretched the lead. De Gea appeared briefly flustered, the Spaniard’s form coming under scrutiny as errors began to mount across his backline. The tactical plan appeared to be unraveling for United, while Sevilla’s strategy continued to squeeze the match into the home side’s favor. This night of European promise lifted a heavy weight from the city as the Sánchez Pizjuán carried Sevilla on its wings through one of those memorable European evenings.
Las Giralda stood as a stately witness to a performance that looked built for the big stage—the kind of match that makes the crowd believe in the magic of knockout football. A celebratory wave rolled through the stands as the second goal was sealed and the semi-final destination became a reality—Juventus awaiting in Turin for the first leg at the Olympic Stadium. The dream of a seventh title in this competition glimmered, bright and tangible, for the Seville faithful.
As the evening wore on, United pushed to salvage something from the tie, but Sevilla’s resilience shone through. Ten minutes remained, and the visitors pressed high with urgency, yet De Gea’s misjudgments continued to haunt the midfield and defense, allowing En-Nesyri to seal the tie with a second—this time a measured finish that left no doubt about the outcome. The final whistle signaled not just a win on the night, but a message to Europe: Sevilla are here to compete at the highest level in this competition. The chant echoed through the city as fans celebrated a night of European mischief and mastery.
Reports and on-site updates credited a packed Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, with a crowd of 41,974, including 2,847 supporters from Britain, reinforcing the sense of a true European night in Seville. Retrospective commentary underscored Sevilla’s control of the tie, the impact of En-Nesiry’s double, and Badé’s timely intervention to secure the advantage before the closing stages.
David de Gea’s errors were dissected in post-match discussions, but the broader takeaway was clear: Sevilla had delivered a performance packed with intent, organization and a level of unanswered poise that suggested they could push to lift the trophy in the coming rounds. The message was loud and clear to Europe: Sevilla are serious contenders in this Europa League campaign. The club’s supporters left the stadium buoyant, certain that their side had shown-night-after-night why European nights in Seville remain among the most evocative experiences in football.
Data would later capture a dramatic night, a fixture that illustrated the difference between a disciplined plan and a stubborn resolve. The match stood as a testament to the work under Mendilibar, the resilience of a squad that refused to crack, and the finishing touch of En-Nesiry when it mattered most. In Madrid, London, or Turin, this Sevilla team sent a clear signal that they would not fade quietly, but rather press their claim on a European stage that rewards courage, unity, and purposeful football. The city’s pride larger than life, as if the walls of the stadium themselves carried the echoes of a triumph well earned.
Note: This account references broadcast and stadium data as reported by the official competition channels and match commentators. Observations reflect the tactical approaches, key moments, and crowd atmosphere that defined a memorable European night for Sevilla and its supporters. Citations provided by event broadcasters reflect attribution from the respective outlets and organizers of the competition.
Data sheet:
3 – Seville: To connect; Jesus Navas, Badé, Marcao (Suso, m.29), Acuña (Alex Telles, m.84); Gudelj, Fernando; Ocampos, Rakitic, Lamela (Bryan Gil, art. 80); In-Prose.
0 – Manchester United: DeGea; Wan-Bissaka (Shaw, art. 46), Maguire, Lindelof, Dalot; Eriksen (Elanga, m.86), Casemiro, Sabitzer (Fred, m.68); Antony, Martial (Weghorst, m. 54), Jadon Sancho (Rashford, m..
Goals: 1-0, M.8: En-Nesyri. 2-0, M.47: Badé. 3-0, M.81: En-Nesyri.
Referee: Artur Dias (Portugal). Alert local Bono (m.73) and visitors Casemiro (m.56), Antony (m.59) and Shaw (m.93).
events: The second leg of the European Football League quarter-finals was played at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in Seville, in front of 41,974 spectators that filled the stadium; Including 2,847 British fans, according to official data.