Author: Amrit Santlani
Manchester United had an unforgettable night against Sevilla in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final at Old Trafford. With just 20 minutes on the clock, the hosts were leading 2-0 as Sevilla struggled to keep up with Brazilian striker Antony. However, everything fell apart after the second goal. Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane left the field injured, Martinez even having to be carried off by his compatriots, Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna.
As well as United conceding two late goals (which kept the La Liga side alive), they will also be without the suspended Bruno Fernandes and their talismanic striker Marcus Rashford for the return leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Marcel Sabitzer did his best to fill Rashford’s absence, while Anthony Martial and Antony dictated the game against Sevilla. However, Sabitzer missed a glorious chance just before the half-hour mark to kill off the game and perhaps equalize. Instead, they will travel to Spain with a defensive line that has been reduced considerably.
Lisandro Martinez’s season may be over after suffering a frightening injury with no one around. The Argentinian cried as he was carried off the pitch. The injury also came at a crucial moment in the tie, when the Dutch coach had made all the substitutions.
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With Martinez out, United were down to ten players and Sevilla made the most of their numerical superiority. Fernandes received a second yellow card and will not play in Seville, and United will have to make do without their top scorer, Rashford.
“Sorry, it’s not even 24 hours, I don’t have a full diagnosis, so I can’t say at the moment,” said the MU coach, when asked about Martinez’s injury at a press conference on Friday.
Update: Lisandro Martinez is out for the rest of the season with a fractured metatarsal.