Tonight, Sevilla FC have the chance to continue making history in the greatest club competition in the world. Having never won an official fixture on English soil and with sixty years having passed since the team last reached a quarter-final of Europe's elite level tournament, you would be forgiven for thinking the Nervionenses come in as underdogs. With losses to Arsenal in 07/08, Manchester City in 15/16 and Leicester last season weighing heavy in the memory and Manchester United's home form going from strength to strength in the league following victories against Chelsea and Liverpool, lesser teams could even come in already bowled over by the occasion. Sevilla Football Club is no ordinary team. Having already achieved incredible things on the grandest stages in football, tonight's stage - the Theatre of Dreams - now awaits a visiting side that doesn't know the meaning of the word surrender, and a visiting side that is ready to prove that dreams do come true.
Despite a regrettable record against English teams in the Champions League, encouragement can be found in the fact that Sevilla have not lost any of the three fixtures they have played against English opposition this season. With a dominant performance in the first-leg against United, all that was lacking was a way past a brilliant David De Gea and a stroke of luck that could have given Sevilla an advantage in the tie. A 0-0 draw did not reflect Sevilla's efforts and a repeat performance would certainly put the Nervionenses in with a huge chance of qualification.
Despite a regrettable record in knockout ties against English opposition, recent performances against United and Liverpool give reason to believe
Before then, two impressive score-draws against Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool give reason to believe in Sevilla FC. With United failing to find the back of the net at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, repeat results - results that saw Sevilla draw 2-2 at Anfield following goals from Wissam Ben Yedder and Tucu Correa and 3-3 in Nervión after falling 0-3 behind before half-time - would be enough to see the side through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Far from needing a miracle, Sevilla only need to score once to throw a spanner in José Mourinho's plans.