European club football in August is not usually the most exciting. It’s mostly about teams trying to gain qualification for the Champions League or the Europa League.
But this month of August has been different, with teams competing for European glory in one location.
In the Europa League, the competition has reached the crucial stage, with just four teams remaining. And it’s now or never for these sides.
Inter Milan, Manchester United, Sevilla, and Shakhtar Donetsk. Those are the four semi-finalists that will be battling it out for a chance to be crowned champions.
For Sevilla eliminated Wolves in the quarter-final. They will be looking to eliminate yet another English side when they take on Manchester United. While both sides could only manage to score one goal each in the previous round of the competition, they will need to outscore each other in this contest.
Click here to predict and win.
Both sides have a fair history between them. Three times both sides have met in the last seven years. And three times, United failed to get the better of Sevilla, conceding five goals in total and scoring just twice.
Asides this history, Man. United have to find a way past a Sevilla defense that has conceded just three goals in the Europa League this season. If it’s anything, United can bank on the penalties to get past Sevilla. After all, they’ve been awarded four in their current Europa League campaign.
Click here to predict and win.
In the other Europa League semi-final game, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk go head to head in the battle for a final spot.
Unlike Manchester United and Sevilla, both sides were not goal-shy in the quarter-finals. While Inter put two past Leverkusen, Shakhtar scored four past Basel. Both games ended with the two sides getting on the score sheet.
Click here to predict and win.
Inter Milan have only lost one of their last 16 competitive games. Their last five games have seen them win all. Shakhtar has the same record too in their recent games. However, their history against Inter is one without wins.
Twice both sides have met in history. And both times, both games ended with two goals scored, and the Ukrainian side failing to better their Italian opponents.
Since the knockout phase of the Europa League began,
- Inter Milan have scored four goals
- Shakhtar Donetsk have scored nine times
- Manchester United have eight goals to their name
- Sevilla have scored three
Of these four sides, only Sevilla have managed to keep a clean sheet in all their knockout games so far. Will all these stats make any difference when the games kick off? Which teams are you rooting for to make the final?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Leave a Reply