Analysis: Sevilla

Vincenzo Montella’s side started in a 4-4-1-1 formation in both attack and defence. The Italian manager put the emphasis on his team’s wing play, looking to use the pace and directness of Jesus Navas and Pablo Sarabia on the right, and Sergio Escudero and Joaquin Correa on the left, with Franco Vazquez operating in the hole behind striker Luis Muriel.

In the defensive third, Sevilla kept a solid defensive structure, maintaining a numerical advantage to limit Manchester United’s threat in potential shooting positions and relying on the central midfielders to mark Nemanja Matic, early substitute Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay. Steven N’Zonzi in particular brought balance to the team in the middle of the park, looking to protect his back four throughout, while Clement Lenglet impressed in his individual battle with Romelu Lukaku. The French centre-back anticipated the movement of the Belgian to prevent him from getting in behind, and dealt efficiently with the direct approach employed by their opponents.

In attack, the hosts alternated between direct play into the towering N’Zonzi and combination play, when their centre-backs had space to exchange short passes. Their main aim was to transfer possession to Ever Banega or N’Zonzi as swiftly and safely as possible, from where the midfield pair would look to get the ball wide to the wingers and overlapping runs of both full-backs. In the final third, the tactic was to get crosses in towards Muriel as quickly as possible, taking advantage of any gaps in the visitors’ defence. It was from a Navas cross that the striker had the best chance of the game, but David de Gea saved brilliantly.