Jose Mourinho has always had a flare for the dramatic in the Champions League. The former midfielder first launched himself to prominence on the international stage when he took Porto to a Champions League crown in one of the biggest surprises ever. It took him a while to repeat the feat, but he got the job done with an outgunned Inter Milan side six years later.
Now, he is looking to take his third team to a Champions League title. Mourinho has a talented club and Manchester United has had a favorable draw thus far. To keep progressing though, they will need to get past Sevilla.
Don't miss the Champions League action from Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium at 2:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FS1.
Champions League Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Manchester United +147
Sevilla +188
Draw +214
Over/Under 2 and 2.5
Odds Analysis
Manchester United is a narrow favorite in this match. The club performed pretty well in the Group Stage, taking care of business and finishing on top of a relatively weak group. Their competition was Basel, CSKA Moscow, and Benfica, and Manchester United only dropped a match to Basel.
Draws were pivotal for Sevilla in order to get to the knockout rounds. Sevilla won just two games, knocking off lowly Maribor and outlasting Sparta Moscow to finish second to Liverpool in their group. They allowed 12 goals during the Group Stage and will need to shore things up in the backend.
Injury Report
Heading into this tilt, Manchester United has a long list of players with injury woes. Defender Eric Bailly and forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been out for a significant amount of time. Midfielder Marouane Fellaini has already been ruled out too after suffering a serious knee injury against Tottenham.
Others are considered doubtful. Midfielder Daley Blind is unlikely to have played anyways as he has been a reserve nearly all season, but forward Marcus Rashford and midfielder Ander Herrera would have factored if they were healthy. Rashford and Herrera have been pivotal for the team this season.
Forwards Nolito and Luis Muriel have just returned from injury for Sevilla. That will give the club a shot in the arm heading into this tilt, as they will likely need to score often to make it to the Quarterfinals. That’s especially the case considering the status of two of the club’s top defenders. Sebastien Corchia and Simon Kjaer are both doubtful for this clash.
Recent Form
Manchester United has struggled on the road in recent weeks. They lost their last two road games, getting shutout by both Newcastle and Tottenham. The club is hoping that the addition of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal can solve some of those woes.
Sevilla has looked completely out of sorts in recent weeks. Over their last nine La Liga games, they have just two wins, and have really struggled in the back. Real Madrid, Eibar, and Real Betis all tallied five goals against this team, highlighting the defensive woes.
Player to Watch
Muriel is going to play an important part if Sevilla are going to knock off Manchester United. He signed for a club record 20 million Euros in the offseason and has flashed some of that skill. However, he has lacked consistency with his performances and will need to level out.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Considering Sevilla’s defensive woes, the total seems to be a bit low. Manchester United may be banged up, but can still find the back of the net, while Sevilla knows its best chance is to get into a shootout.
At this price, backing Sevilla makes a lot of sense. Playing at home will be a big boon for the team, and they will limit Manchester United enough to get the win.
Champions League Odds: Sevilla 2, Manchester United 1
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