Europa League Team News: Wolves-Sevilla and Shakhtar-FC Basel
Manchester United and Inter will discover their opponents for the last four of the 2019/20 Europa League this evening. United will face the winner of Wolves and Sevilla, while whoever triumphs out of Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Basel will meet Serie A outfit Inter for a place in the final.
When is kick off?
Tuesday 11th August, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
MSV Arena, Duisburg (Germany)
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1 / BT Sport Extra 1 / BT Sport Ultimate
How they qualified?
Wolves overcame a stubborn Olympiacos side in the round of 16, following up their 1-1 draw in Greece back in February with a 1-0 home win last week. Goals from Pedro Neto and Raul Jimenez over the two legs were enough for Nuno's side to secure their first European quarter-final in 48 years.
Sevilla arguably had things much more difficult than Wolves. Their first leg was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving them in a straight shoot-out with Roma for a place in the quarter-finals. The Spanish side made easy work of Roma, however, recording a 2-0 win last week, with Sergio Reguilon and Youssef En-Nesyri scoring the goals.
Team News
Wolves will have to make do without first-choice left wing-back Jonny for the remainder of their Europa League campaign after the Spaniard suffered a knee injury against Olympiacos last week. Nuno otherwise has a clean bill of health but has tough decisions to make regarding selection. Leander Dendoncker is an option if Nuno wants to add another body in central midfield, which would change Wolves' formation from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2, with one of Diogo Jota, Adama Traore or Daniel Podence partnering Raul Jimenez up front.
Sevilla are expected to name an unchanged side from their 2-0 win over Roma. Nemanja Gudelj is unlikely to be available as he continues to recover from Coronavirus, while goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik is a doubt. Munir will have to settle for a place on the bench despite great form earlier in the competition. Sevilla have managed to extend Sergio Reguilon's loan from Real Madrid, while creative king Ever Banega will only leave the club once their European campaign is over.
Probable XIs
Wolves (352): Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neves, Vinagre; Traore, Jimenez
Sevilla (433): Bounou; Navas, Carlos, Kounde, Reguilon; Jordan, Fernandes, Banega; Suso, En-Nesyri, Ocampos
Key Battle - Adama Traore vs Lucas Ocampos
It's fair to say Adama Traore is putting the team above himself at the moment, having dislocated his shoulder on four occasions this season but surgery put off until after the season is finished. The Spanish powerhouse has been immense for Wolves this season, finally adding end product to his breathtaking power and speed. New Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas coped pretty well with him last week but he is still the major danger for Wolves. The 24-year-old averages more dribbles per game (4.8) than any other player in the Europa League this season.
At the other end of the field is Sevilla ace Lucas Ocampos. The Argentine has enjoyed a stellar first season for Sevilla, scoring 14 times in LaLiga. Ocampos is still waiting for his first Euorpean goal for the club but ranks eighth in the Europa League for most dribbles per game (3.3). Moreover, Ocampos did register an assist in Sevilla's 2-0 win over Roma last week. With Ocampos and Traore set to occupy the same side of the pitch, supporters should be in for a treat.
When is kick off?
Tuesday 11th August, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen (Germany)
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 2
How they qualified
Shakhtar Donetsk romped to a 5-1 aggregate win over German side Wolfsburg to book a place in the quarter-finals. Shakhtar won 2-1 away from home back in March before triumphing 3-0 on home soil last week. Junior Moraes scored three times over the two games.
FC Basel were 4-0 aggregate winners against Frankfurt, pretty much killing the tie in the first leg pre-lockdown with a 3-0 win away from home. Fabian Frei scored in both matches for the Swiss giants.
Team News
Shakhtar will have to make do without Davit Khocholava after the centre-back was sent off against Wolfsburg last week on what was his first start in the competition this season. Mykola Matvyenko should move inside from left-back to deputise, with Sergiy Bolbat coming into the side.
FC Basel also have to contend with a suspension in the squad, with Eray Comert banned. The 22-year-old has started 10 games in the Europa League this season and will likely be replaced at centre-back by 21-year-old Jasper van der Werff. FC Basel are also missing first-choice goalkeeper Jonas Omlin, who is injured. Djordje Nikolic will take over on Tuesday. Central midfielder Luca Zuffi is also sidelined for the Swiss side.
Probable XIs
Shakhtar (4231): Pyatov; Dodo, Krivtsov, Matvyenko, Bolbat; Antonio, Stepankenko; Marlos, Patrick, Taison; Maraes
FC Basel (4231): Nikolic; Widmer, Werff, Alderete, Petretta; Xhaka, Frei; Stocker, Campo, Pululu; Cabral
