SEVILLA, KOMPAS.com - Laga babak 16 pertama Liga Champions antara Sevilla dan Manchester United di Stadion Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan berakhir imbang tanpa gol, Rabu (21/2/2018) atau Kamis dini hari WIB.
Hasil imbang ini menjadi modal positif Manchester United untuk lolos ke perempat final. Pada laga kedua, pasukan Jose Mourinho itu bakal menjadi tuan rumah di Stadion Old Trafford, 13 Maret 2018.
(Baca Juga: Legenda Chelsea Sarankan Marcus Rashford untuk Tinggalkan Manchester United)
Pada laga ini, Sevilla sebenarnya tampil lebih mendominasi. Mereka memiliki penguasaan bola hingga 54 persen.
Dari segi peluang, tuan rumah 25 kali berusaha menjebol gawang David De Gea berbanding enam peluang Manchester United yang mengancam gawang Sevilla.
Dari jumlah itu, Sevilla punya 8 tembakan tepat sasaran berbanding satu milik tim tamu. Namun, penampilan apik De Gea di bawah mistar gawang Setan Merah menggagalkan semua usaha pasukan Vincenzo Montella.
8 - David de Gea has made eight saves against Sevilla, the most for a Manchester United goalkeeper in a Champions League game since Edwin van der Sar vs Barcelona in May 2011 (8). Hero. pic.twitter.com/OpxZQSzK9p
World class is an over used term in football and maybe with Paul Pogba that has been the case but there is no doubt that Manchester United have at least one player worthy of that status as goalkeeper David De Gea once again demonstrated his importance as he kept his team in this Champions League tie.
Two superb saves from headers, the second breathtaking, at the end of the first half denied Sevilla who had countless other opportunities against an at times over-run United side who nevertheless go into the second leg of this last-16 encounter on March 13 as favourites to progress into the quarter-finals.
Or maybe not if they play like this because for all of Jose Mourinho’s post-match protestations about his team being in control that was simply not the case while it is dispiriting that, once more, the United manager’s pre-occupation was to try and stop the opposition rather than impose him team on them.
The visitors looked pedestrian, conservative, restrained; a team lacking in verve. It was a far cry, for example, from the way Liverpool destroyed Porto away last week. And surely United cannot keep relying on De Gea?
In fact Mourinho congratulated himself on how his midfield had controlled the Sevilla playmaker Ever Banega – not quite true – and he lauded his decision to field Scott McTominay from the start, and as competently as the promising young Scot did perform, he is an essentially destructive, rather than constructive, player.
Liverpool Under-19s host Manchester United Under-19s in a huge UEFA Youth League clash this afternoon.
The last-16 tie, which takes place at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park stadium, kicks off at 3pm.
The winner will face Manchester City in the last eight, after they beat Inter Milan.
Liverpool’s youngsters, managed by former Reds captain Steven Gerrard, finished top of their group, identical to the senior side in the Champions League.
United's youth side, with ex-midfielder Nicky Butt as coach, came second on goal difference to Basel.
They then saw off Serbian outfit Brodarac 2-0 in a play-off to reach this stage.
Wales international Ben Woodburn is available for the Reds and captains the side, and with keeper Kamil Grabara also starting.
Promising youngsters Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong feature for United.
Liverpool XI: Grabara, N Williams, Lewis, Masterson, Johnston, Dixon-Bonner, Jones, Kane, Millar, Woodburn, Adekanye. Subs: Jaros, R Williams, Clayton, Boyes, Larouci, Camacho, McAuley.
United XI: Fojticek, Warren, R Williams, O’Connor, Laird, Garner, Hamilton, Chong, Gomes, Barlow, Bohui. Subs: Kovar, Ercolani, Tanner, B Williams, Boonen, Burkart, Mellor.
You can follow all the action LIVE right here.
TRIBUNNEWS.COM - Manchester United gagal mencetak gol tandang setelah hanya bermain imbang tanpa gol dalam laga leg 1 babak 16 besar Liga Champions menghadapi Sevilla di Stadion Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Rabu (21/2/2018) atau Kamis dini hari WIB.
Di sepanjang laga, Sevilla tampil sedikit lebih mendominasi dengan memiliki 54 persen penguasaan bola.
Sevilla juga unggul dari Manchester United soal menciptakan peluang dengan melepaskan 25 tembakan yang delapan di antaranya tepat sasaran.
Sedangkan di sepanjang laga Manchester United hanya mampu menciptakan enam peluang dengan satu shot on target.
Sejak awal pertandingan, Sevilla langsung mengambil inisiatif serangan dan tampil lebih efektif dalam memanfaatkan penguasaan bola.
Bahkan saat laga baru memasuki menit kedua, Sevilla sudah memiliki peluang melalui tandukan bek Clement Lenglet yang arahnya masih melebar.
Dua menit berselang, Sevilla langsung memiliki peluang mencetak gol melalui sepakan spekulatif Luis Muriel yang masih mampu diadang kiper Manchester United , David de Gea , secara gemilang.
Setelah itu, Sevilla kembali memiliki peluang melalui sepakan Ever Banega dan Jesus Navas pada menit ke-14 dan 15' yang arahnya masih sedikit menyamping dari gawang Manchester United .
Sementara Manchester United tampak sangat kesulitan untuk membongkar pertahanan Sevilla .
Bahkan Manchester United baru bisa melepaskan tembakan pertama ke gawang Sevilla pada menit ke-25 melalui Romelu Lukaku yang arahnya masih jauh melambung di atas mistar gawang.
