Wolves will be keen to set up an all-English semi-final against rivals Manchester United when they take on Spanish side Sevilla in the last eight in Duisburg. Victory for the Midlands outfit will thus ensure the presence of one English team in the final in Cologne on the 21st.
This is Wolves’ first European quarterfinal in 48 years and that in itself is testimony to how Nuno Espirito Santos has turned things around. When the Portuguese gaffer arrived at Molineux in 2017, they were 15th in the Championship. He got them promoted to the Premier League, ensured qualification for Europe and the club now know that they are effectively three wins away from a potential Champions League place-the winner of the Europa League automatically qualifies for next season’s CL.
Wolves will be without Jonny Otto, who picked up an injury against Olympiakos, and the suspended Daniel Podence. This is the 59th game of what’s been a very long campaign for Nuno’s men, although they haven’t shown any real signs of fatigue in the past few weeks.
Up against them are Sevilla, managed by Julen Lopetegui, who is slowly rebuilding his reputation following disastrous spells with the Spanish national team and Real Madrid. He guided the Andalusians to fourth place in La Liga, level on points with third place Atletico Madrid, which means the club will definitely play in the Champions League next season.
Although both teams have quality shining through their ranks, the Win Comparator website has Sevilla as favourites, and not without reason. Los Rojiblancos are masters of this competition, having won it five times, and dispatched Roma with ease in the previous round.
The weather in Duisburg is also expected to hit the 30 degree mark, and it goes without saying that Sevilla would be more accustomed to playing in those conditions than Wolves.
Sevilla are yet to be beaten since La Liga resumed after the Corona-enforced break. Among their results was a goalless draw against Barcelona, a win away at Athletic Bilbao, and a 1-0 victory over Valencia in their final game of the season. Lopetegui has also tightened up their defence, which has conceded just once in their last seven games across all competitions.
Sevilla last seven games results
Sevilla 2-0 Roma
Sevilla 1-0 Valencia
Sociedad 0-0 Sevilla
Sevilla 2-0 Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Sevilla
Sevilla 1-0 Eibar
Leganes 0-3 Sevilla
Wolves have played 16 games in the Europa League this season, and have scored in all but one of them. They’ve also faced Spanish opposition previously in the competition in the form of Espanyol, whom they beat 7-3 on aggregate.
Sevilla v Wolves at the MSV Arena, Duisburg (KO 9pm)