Lenglet, Geis and Vázquez celebrate a Sevilla FC Champions League goal
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THE SÁNCHEZ-PIZJUÁN AWAITS

21/02/2018
Sevilla FC face Manchester United in the last-16 of the Champions League. In the first competitive meeting between the two sides in history, United venture into the unknown cauldron and fortress that is the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The Nervión faithful could be the decisive factor and could set Sevilla up to keep the Champions League dream alive in the Theatre of Dreams

Eleven against eleven. When French referee, Clément Turpin, blows the whistle at the start of this Wednesday's historic European clash in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, all the stats, records and superstitions go out the window for ninety minutes of pure football - pitting one side of eleven elite footballers against another. There can be no 'tomorrows', no excuses and no mercy; Sevilla have to remember the merit that got them to this stage and re-muster the passion that has seen them to famous results this season already. With the pride of Champions and the fight that has given Sevilla Football Club so many memorable European nights, all that is left to do now is to step up to the occasion and show the world that Sevilla belongs on the grandest stage of them all. 

The Nervionenses have a chance to show they belong on the grandest stage of them all

Sevilla's advantage tonight is clear: an atmosphere that no Red Devil will be accustomed to. For any fan unfamiliar with the unity between Sevilla Football Club and its loyal, vocal and demanding fans, tonight's blockbuster could be something of an eye-opener. The very same Red Devils have never played in the cauldron that is the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán and 16 points adrift of Manchester City in the Premier League, will be more desperate than ever to put together a memorable European campaign. The Sevillista faithful may well be the decisive factor in putting a dent in that very aspiration. One thing's for sure: when José Mourinho, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, David De Gea, Antonio Valencia and the rest of United squad hear the himno centenario ringing round Nervión, they'll know they're in for a tough night. 

Up to this point, Manchester United's record in the Champions League has been close to immaculate. In six games played, Mourinho's side have won five and lost just one in Basel (1-0). Having scored 12 goals and conceded just three, results have also impressed - with 1-4 and 2-1 wins against CSKA Moscow and 0-1 and 2-0 wins against Benfica. Their main goal-threats so far: Romelu Lukaku with four and young Brit Marcus Rashford with three; though it would be foolish to rule out new addition Alexis Sánchez as a danger man. Smalling, Blind and Lukaku are the only three to have played in all six matches.

Lukaku and Rashford have seven of United's 12 Champions League goals, while Ben Yedder (6) has contributed half of Sevilla's 

Montella's Sevilla come into the game alive and kicking on all fronts. After a tough January that showed clear improvements across the board when compared to December, the Nervionenses have built momentum by qualifying for the Final of the Copa del Rey and consolidating form in the league. Under Berizzo, Sevilla managed two wins (excluding wins in qualification), also scoring 12 goals with 2-2 and 3-3 draws against Liverpool; one loss and a win against Spartak as well as a win and a draw against NK Maribor. Ben Yedder has scored half (6), with the others falling to Ganso, Banega, Lenglet, Kjaer, Pizarro and Correa. Sergio Rico, Escudero, Banega and Ben Yedder are the only ones to have started in all Champions League matches. 

Sevilla come in with a mixed bag of Champions League results, though have momentum from qualifying for the Copa del Rey Final

The home advantage for the first-leg also shows precedent. After the Bernabéu (76%) and Camp Nou (73%), the Sánchez-Pizjuán has proven itself to be the third most reliable fortress - producing 13 wins in 18 Champions League matches. Though stats, after all, are just that. 

Stats will all be forgotten once the round of 16 tie kicks into action

Battle lines have been drawn and Nervión is set for another unforgettable spectacle. Though the opponent may be one of the most experienced sides in footballing history, they venture into the unknown. Our Sevillistas will give them no room for error and will help in any way they can to set the stage for a second-leg triumph in the Theatre of Dreams. A clean sheet, tireless running and incisive finishing past a world-class David De Gea have to be the priorities, then drive and focus ahead of a trip to Manchester can do the rest. Good luck, Sevillistas, it's going to be one hell of a night.