Sevilla suffered in Eindhoven in February and those of Sampaoli suffered in Istanbul. But the Europa League has been around for a long time, given the choice, he usually chooses to be on the Sevilla side. He had to put up with a shower of objects in the area of his goalkeeper Dmitrovic. But Sevilla, the king of the tournament, will be in the quarterfinals for the seventh time after enduring the pressure of Fenerbahçe (1-0). The previous six won the tournament.
Three weeks ago, the Serbian goalkeeper had to placate a PSV fan who jumped onto the field with the intention of attacking him. In the Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium, lighters and coins rained down on him. One of those objects thrown from the stands behind the goal ended up hitting Dmitrovic's head, who collapsed on the grass and required medical assistance.
It was minute 54 and the game was stopped for six minutes until the goalkeeper recovered and the referee announced over the public address system. Several local players even had to ask their fans to calm down so that the game could be restarted.
Sevilla had a hard time, especially after Michael Oliver signaled a penalty on the brink of half-time at the hands of Alex Telles. Éner Valencia was in charge of transforming it. The Ecuadorian was the most incisive player with his mobility and his ability to load his leg, but Dmitrovic always responded.
There were 9 added minutes but that was precisely the period that Sevilla played the best, thanks to the entry of Lucas Ocampos and Lamela, who gave the ball a lot of discretion and reassured a team in which Sampaoli, on the wing, got on by the walls.
In Seville, at the Benito Villamarín, Betis could not even come close to the feat of coming back from 4-1 at Old Trafford. Ten Hag's only concession was the inclusion of Maguire in the eleven in Varane's position. Pellistri took the place of the injured Antony. The rest, despite the advantage that United brought, was a very starting team.
The red devils did not trust the Verdiblancos, who were able to get into the tie with a great shot from Joaquín at the start of the duel. The veteran soccer player hooked a shoe that forced De Gea to fly. Between the goalkeeper's glove and the post they avoided the goal that would have given emotion.
Abner's injury, midway through the first half, disrupted Pellegrini's plans. But the level at which Marcus Rashford is playing in this 2023, the company that the béticos were looking for was a Homeric company. The English striker, one of Barça's executioners in the Europa League, is still touched by a wand. He made it clear with the great thread that he printed on the ball to beat Rui Silva already in the second half (0-1). It is his nineteenth goal since football returned after the World Cup in Qatar, the 27th of the season. Against such a streak, Betis could do little.
