UEFA Champions League Preview: Machester United Vs Sevilla, AS Roma Vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Machester United Vs Sevilla: A place in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League is up for grabs in the second of three very important home games in succession for Jose Mourinho’s men, who welcome Sevilla to the Theater of Dreams (Old Trafford) on Tuesday night for the decisive second leg in the last-16 tie.
After a disappointing goalless first-leg in Andalusia three weeks ago, it’s winner takes all at the Theater of Dreams as the Reds look to reach the last eight of Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2014.
The United coach has confirmed that Anthony Martial is fit to return following a two-game absence through injury, after the Frenchman and Zlatan Ibrahimovic trained on Monday morning.
Paul Pogba was involved later in Monday’s session at the Aon Training Complex, but Mourinho is unsure yet whether he will be able to face Sevilla. Fellow midfielder Marouane Fellaini could be pushing for a start after returning as a substitute against Liverpool following a speedy recovery from knee surgery.
Phil Jones, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera have also missed recent matches. Meanwhile, Sevilla will be without former Manchester City player Jesus Navas, who wasn’t included in the 22-man squad that travelled to Manchester because of an injury to his right calf.
Man United enter the game on the back of a morale-boosting run of three consecutive wins in the Premier League. The Reds came from behind to beat both Chelsea and Crystal Palace before seeing off arch rivals Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday – a crucial victory which consolidated second place in the league.
Now, attention turns to further progression in Europe and the Reds will be confident of maintaining our strong home form, having won all five games at Old Trafford in all competitions so far in 2018.
AS Roma Vs Shakhtar Donetsk: Roma head coach Eusebio Di Francesco says he is unconcerned by having to overturn the club’s 2-1 first-leg deficit against Shakhtar at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.
Cengiz Under’s first-half strike in Ukraine was cancelled out by Facunda Ferreyra’s goal before a fantastic free-kick from Fred settled the first leg three weeks ago, leaving Shakhtar eyeing a first quarter-final spot since 2011.
But with home comforts on the Italians’ side, Di Francesco urged his players to cast aside any nerves and get on the front foot in Rome.
He said: “If we thought about those things, we wouldn’t even step on the pitch to play the game. I think Roma must be both light-hearted and extremely motivated entering this match. We must not be cocky but still we must have that strong desire to do damage to our opponents.
“This is not a match that we can manage, we must win, so the key to this match is being light-hearted and having an extreme determination to hurt our opponents.
“And we cannot stand and wait to get that, we are a team always trying to dominate our matches, even if we are aware that we are facing a team with great qualities and excellent ball-passing.”
Roma’s Gregoire Defrel may be fit to return after missing the last month with injury, but may not be risked amid an injury-hit first campaign in the Italian capital. Defender Rick Karsdorp is still missing with a long-term injury and will not return until next month at the earliest.
Shakhtar defender Sergiy Kryvtsov, who was forced off with injury in the first leg, has not recovered in time for the game and Ivan Ordets, who replaced him in that game, could deputize.
