Sevilla hosts Roma

Sevilla hosts Roma at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in one of the most interesting games from the Europa League 1/8-finals.

Sevilla are the most successful team in the history of this competition. The Spaniards reached the 1/8-finals after eliminating the Romanian champion CFR Cluj in the previous round. Julen Lopetegui’s boys did it without a win, though. After a 1-1 draw in the first game in Romanai, Sevilla progressed after a 0-0 draw at home in the second leg.

Sure – it was not how we actually expected Sevilla to progress. They were big favourites against Cluj and it was kind of surprising that they relied on their away goal to continue. But somehow this is how you’re reaching the final in these competitions.

On Saturday Sevilla prepared for their Europa League fixture with a very difficult visit to Atletico Madrid in La Liga. The game at the Wanda Metropolitano ended without a winner – 2-2. Luuk de Jong and Lucas Ocampos from a penalty kick scored for Los Rojiblancos.

Roma were also not in their most convincing form, but they still eliminated Belgian side Gent to reach the 1/8-final. The Wolves won the first leg in Rome with 1-0, while the 1-1 draw in Belgium did a good enough job for them to progress.

Roma were in some kind of a crisis regarding their results, but now they are doing better – three games won in their last four. We are sure that now the manager Paulo Fonseca and his players are feeling more calm.

Between Sevilla and Roma we expect a pretty great showdown. We think the tie will be decided in the second leg at the Olimpico, but this first game in Andalusia could give us a lot of answers, too. Let’s see.