Sevilla on course for record sixth Europa title
RECORD winners Sevilla, city rivals Real Betis and Villarreal aim to keep the Spanish flag flying in the Europa League by reaching the knockout stage today.
Sevilla require only a draw at Standard Liege to reach the last 32, as do Betis against Olympiacos, depending on the result of the other game in their group, while Villarreal are through if they win in Scotland against Rangers.
Six of the last nine titles in Europe’s second-tier competition have gone to Spain, with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla winning three each, giving Sevilla five since their first in 2005.
Seven clubs have already qualified for the knockouts, including England’s Arsenal and Chelsea and Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen.
Sevilla go to Liege as Spanish La Liga leaders and joint leaders in Group J on nine points with Russia’s Krasnodar. Liege have six and need victory to stay alive.
Sevilla coach Pablo Machin has remained modest throughout a successful run, saying after the latest league win against Valladolid: “Let’s enjoy being top and appreciate what we are achieving.”
Villarreal are 14th in La Liga ahead of their Rangers date, but hope that a weekend 2-1 over Betis to end a run of five games without success is a sign of better times to come.
“We hope the win against Betis is a turning point. The important thing now is to keep the momentum going with a win in Glasgow,” midfielder Santi Cazerlo said.
Villarreal cannot afford to drop points in tight Group G where all four teams are still alive. They top the group on six points but Rangers and Spartak Moscow have five each and Rapid Vienna, who go to to Moscow in the other game, four.
Betis are top of Group F on eight points, with AC Milan, who host eliminated Dudelange in the other game, and Olympiacos on seven.
They have scored stunning away victories at Barcelona in La Liga and Milan in the Europa League but now want to finally win at home again for the first time since a 3-0 over Dudelange in early October.
Milan will be hoping for a draw in Seville while they are big favourites against Dudelange, with coach Gennaro Gattuso planning a two-man strike force of Gonzalo Higuain and Patrick Cutrone.
Things are complicated in Group I where all four teams are still alive. Leaders Genk (seven) are at Malmo (five), who are joint second with Sarpsborg, who host Besiktas (four).
Other clubs who can clinch their place in the last 32 include former champions Zenit St Petersburg, last season’s semi-finalists Salzburg and Dynamo Kiev.
Topping a group is important as winners will avoid the four best teams dropping down from the Champions League in the last 32 and have the return leg at home.
No wonder Arsenal manager Unai Emery, who guided Sevilla to their title treble from 2014-2016, is unlikely to bring out reserves only at Ukraine’s Vorskla, even though the Gunners then face Tottenham Hotspur in the league on Sunday.