Europa League Lowdown: Sevilla

We take a closer look at our opponents in the UEFA Europa League last-16: Sevilla.

The Spanish side are five-time winners of the tournament - an all-time record - and made history between 2014-16, when they won the trophy three times in a row.

This will be the first competitive meeting between the sides, although we have met Sevilla before in friendlies.

WHO ARE SEVILLA?

Founded in 1890, the Spanish side have become familiar faces in both the Champions League and Europa League over the past two decades.

They finished sixth in La Liga last season and are currently in fourth place this time around, 12 points adrift of leaders Barcelona. Known as Los Hispalenses (from Hispalis, Seville's ancient name) or Los Blanquirrojos (white-and-reds), they play at the 42,714-capacity Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sevilla have only won La Liga once, in 1945-46, but have enjoyed recent glory in Europe.

Under former manager Unai Emery they beat Benfica, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Liverpool to win the Europa League three consecutive times between 2014 and 2016.

HAVE WE PLAYED THEM BEFORE?

This will be the first competitive meeting between the sides, but we have played two friendlies against Sevilla.

We lost our last meeting, in August 2017, at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan - falling to a 2-1 defeat in the Trofeo Antonio Puerta.

Sergio Escudero gave the hosts the lead and Nolito added a second on 90 minutes. Edin Dzeko did get us a late consolation in injury-time.

However, we won the first friendly between the teams in a 10-goal thriller in August 2015 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Dzeko scored twice on his first appearance in a Roma shirt, having just joined us from Manchester City, while Vasilis Torosidis, Radja Nainggolan, Mohamed Salah and Francesco Totti also got goals.

WHO IS THEIR MANAGER?

Former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui is currently in charge. The 53-year-old joined in June on a three-year contract. As a player, Lopetegui was a goalkeeper, one of the rare players to represent both Barcelona and Real Madrid - winning La Liga with the latter in 1989-90.

As a coach, he has recently had spells with both Spain's national team and Real Madrid, albeit both jobs ending controversially.

Lopetegui likes to play attacking football, with Sevilla often adopting a 3-4-3 formation.

WHO ARE THEIR KEY PLAYERS?

Sevilla captain Jesus Navas joined in 2017 from Manchester City. A homegrown talent now returning to the club he made his name, Navas is a versatile right wing-back who can also play in more advanced positions.

Sevilla's top-scorer in the Europa League is Munir El Haddadi, who has five goals. The ex-Barcelona forward is still only 24, and has been capped once by Spain.

Argentine winger Lucas Ocampos is another danger man. He briefly played in Serie A during a loan spell with Milan. Ocampos scored 14 La Liga goals during the 2019-20 season (six coming since the lockdown) - but is yet to score in the Europa League.

HOW DID THEY REACH THE LAST-16?

Sevilla topped Group A ahead of APOEL, despite losing 1-0 to the Cypriot side in their final game. The sides eliminated at that stage were Qarabag and Dudelange.

They drew Romanian champions Cluj in the last-32. Youssef En-Nesyri gave them a crucial away goal in the first leg in a 1-1 draw before they snuck through in Spain on away goals despite a nervy stalemate on the night.

WHEN IS THE GAME?

The game takes place in Duisburg on Thursday evening, with kick-off at 18:55 CEST.

The match is a one-legged affair, with the winner progressing to the next round of the competition. If necessary, extra-time and penalties will decide the match.