Features
JUE 23.04.2015
Liga BBVAside Sevilla FC take on FC Zenit on Thursday with a UEFA Europa League semi-final place up for grabs. In order to progress, the Andalusians, who are the current title holders, will need to make the most of their 2-1 first leg lead over the Russians. Sevilla have a chance to prolong the good streak of results enjoyed by Spanish sides against the Saint Petersburg outfit. Zenit have failed to beat a Liga BBVA team in their last eight times of asking.
Good form on the road
Sevilla come into this second leg encounter in good form. Unai Emery’s charges have come out on top from their last two away games in Europe, in the round of 32 and the round 16. On top of that, they racked up six goals over those two outings (2-3 against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1-3 against Villarreal CF). A good away goalscoring average could prove decisive in the case of an aggregate draw.
Sevilla have scored six goals in their last two away trips in the Europa League.
What’s more, the hispalenses’away record throughout the season also invites optimism, as in five matches away from the Sánchez Pizjuán, Sevilla have won twice, drawn two and lost just once.
Sevilla have also been in this situation before and come out on top —they knocked Zenit out of the quarter final stage of the competition in 2006, drawing 1-1 in St Petersburg to advance to the semi-finals 5-2 on aggregate.
The Andalusians qualified for the semi-finals in 2006 by knocking out Zenit.
Zenit’s torrid experience against Spanish teams
Sevilla’s opponents will be out to break their horrid run against La Liga teams. Zenit have gone eight consecutive games against Spanish opposition without winning, something they will need to change if they are to make it through to the next round.
The Russians played Atlético Madrid in 2012 (drawing 1-1 at home and losing 3-1 away), Málaga in 2012 (drawing 2-2 at home and losing 3-0 away), Real Madrid in 2008 (losing 3-0 and 2-1) and Villarreal, also in 2008, against whom they recorded their last victory over La Liga opposition (beating the Yellow Submarine 1-0 before losing 2-1).
© LALIGA - 2015